The opera may seem a little out of reach if you are living on a budget. The 2009 San Diego Opera season, however, is packed with dramatic surprises and super savings sure to reach the most diverse opera enthusiasts who want to get the most for their money.

With Giacomo Puccini’s Tosca, closing to rave reviews, the next opera in the season, Jules Massenet’s Don Quixote, opens Feb. 14. The curtain rises on Giuseppe Verdi’s Rigoletto on March 28 and Benjamin Britten’s English masterpiece Peter Grimes opens on Saturday, April 18. The season will end in May with one of opera’s most beloved works, Giacomo Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, featuring famed lesbian American soprano Patricia Racette, who returns to San Diego Opera to sing her definitive Cio-Cio-San.

Three, four or five-opera subscriptions for the 2009 International Season are now available. Regular subscriptions range from $87 to $925. Weekday Super Savings Subscription Packages are also available, which offer a full series of five operas for the price of four. Rush tickets for $20, subject to availability, are available 90-minutes prior to performances. General admission single tickets are also available. All tickets and subscription packages can be purchased by calling 619-533-7000 or online at www.sdopera.com.

San Diego Opera will host the second annual “Family Day at the Opera” on Saturday, Feb. 21. This special event will show children and their parents what goes on behind-the-scenes during opera performances with hands-on interactive exhibits and backstage tours.

Family Day at the Opera provides San Diego families an opportunity to attend a special performance of San Diego Opera’s Ensemble show of Così fan tutte.

Participation is open to students, grades 3-12, and their parents. Attendees will get a behind-the-scenes peek at the set for San Diego Opera’s production of Don Quixote and a backstage demonstration of theatrical lighting, rigging and make-up. They will participate in a hands-on gallery of props and costume pieces from productions.

Last year, “Family Day at the Opera” was a sold out event. To accommodate more families, the backstage tour/demonstrations and walk-through gallery will begin at 11 a.m. There will be two performances of Così fan tutte at 12:40 and 2:40 p.m. After each show, singers will be available for questions and answers.

Family Day at the Opera takes place at the Civic Theatre, located at 1100 Third Ave., in Downtown San Diego.

Additionally, San Diego Opera’s Education Department provides a variety of in-depth, Visual and Performing Arts Standards based arts education experiences to San Diego students grades 3-12. These programs include Opera For Kids, Words and Music Program and Student Night at the Opera. Family Day at the Opera allows young people who are already passionate about opera to share that with their families.

For more information and to reserve your space, contact Cynthia Stokes, the associate director of education, school and community programs at 619-533-7091.