Our first visit to Santa Fe for the summer opera season in the unique 7,000ft 'high-desert' setting of New Mexico was in 2023. We were blown away not only by the city of Santa Fe and quality of performances, but also the wonderful experience of getting to know some of New Mexico. Little can prepare you for the unique scenery and setting of Georgia O'Keeffe's former home at the Ghost Ranch while the town of Los Alamos really does have a lot to see of interest. The Bandelier National Monument protects over 33,000 acres of ruggedly beautiful canyon and mesa country.
We start our visit gathering in Albuquerque with two nights to acclimatise and a full day to explore this interesting city. Welcome dinner on our second evening. We send our bags on by van but travel at lunchtime to Santa Fe aboard the Santa Fe Railrunner with a journey of around 90 minutes across the dessert. On our first evening we have dinner in the garden setting of the opera house before heading to the Crosby Theatre at the Santa Fe Opera for an evening with the up and coming 'stars of tommorrow' of the Santa Fe Apprentice Programme in Concert with the Santa Fe Orchestra.
Monday is a 'non-opera' evening so after breakfast we head out of Santa Fe with a ride or around 90 minutes to Los Alamos to explore this former pueblo and now infamous town. We then continue to the Bandelier National Monument. This astonishing site is home to petroglyphs, dwellings carved into the soft rock cliffs, and standing masonry walls that pay tribute to the early days of a culture that still survives in the surrounding communities. We return to Santa Fe late afternoon and the evening is free to explore the heart of the town (our hotel is just two blocks from the Santa Fe Plaza and the Palace of the Governors).
On Tuesday we spend the morning with an expert local guide exploring the historic heart of this fascinating city. The afternoon is free and this evening you can chose to attend a new production of La Boheme as one of your three operas.
On Wednesday we head up to Museum Hill and the home to the Museum of International Folk Art, Museum of Spanish Colonial Art, Museum of Indian Art & Culture and the Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian. We will have lunch at the Museum Hill Cafe before returning to the hotel mid-afternoon with some time to rest. The second opera option this evening is a new production of Rigoletto.
On Thursday we will leave the day free to explore the many shops and galleries of Santa Fe. The heart of the art scene is centred on Canyon Road with over 80 galleries which begins just 4 minutes walk from the hotel. Also located downtown are the Museum of Fine Arts and the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum. Tonight you have the option to attend a new production of Richard Wagner's masterpiece Die Walküre.
On Friday after breakfast we drive approx 90 minutes the hamlet of Abiquiu and then a little further to the spectacular setting of the Ghost Ranch which was home to Georgia O'Keeffe for much of her life and features in many of her greatest paintings. We return mid-afternoon in time for your final operatic option - a revival of French director Laurent Pelly’s stylish production of Mozart's The Marriage of Figaro.
The day-to-day schedule may be adjusted to accommdate local weather conditions. We will have a second pre-performance dinner at the opera house which will be fixed when we see which is the most popular choice for our guests.
Tickets for the performances are all top price mid stalls seats. If you wish to add a 4th opera the additional cost is £200 inc transfers.
On Saturday we head back to Albuquerque for our flights home or for an optional 3-night extension (full details will be provided in due course).
Flights: getting to Albuquerque has its challenges and as there are a wide range of options in economy, Premium Economy and Business class and an even wider range of pricing depending on when booked, where you travel from etc. we have decided not to offer an 'included' flight plan. We will be happy to book flights for you and advise costs accordingly (currently looking to be around £1200 economy, £2200 premium economy and between £2600 and £4500 Business).
Please Register your interest and let us know where you would prefer to fly from and we will come back to you with options.
