This is a very exciting time of year with dozens of extremely talented artists arriving in Natchez for the month-long Natchez Festival of Music.

There are also set designers, carpenters, electricians and scene painters who are specialists in their field, bringing visual beauty to “My Fair Lady” and “Falstaff.”

Painters are busy painting the exterior of Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center. Custodial helpers are cleaning floors. New cushioned seats have been installed in the performing hall, and an elegant new stage curtain hung.

There will be many other special features to make this historic performing hall come to new beauty and life this year.

On Friday there will be a new Symphony of Gardens Tour from 1 to 5 p.m., followed at 8 p.m. by the very popular “Night of Stars” performance at First Presbyterian Church.

Saturday morning will feature another Symphony of Gardens Tour followed by an outstanding performance of Mozart’s Requiem with orchestra and Alcorn State University Concert Choir at 8 p.m. at St. Mary Basilica free to the public.

Serious preparations for performances of the famous Broadway musical “My Fair Lady,” with an all-star cast will be ongoing. It will be performed May 11 and 12.

May 18 and 19 will include “Command Performance” at St. Mary Basilica and “Night of Jazz” at the Prentiss Club.

On Sunday, May 20, at 6 p.m. the festival will present a special performance of Benjamin Britten’s opera “Noah’s Flood,” with the cast from the festival and from children and youth choirs at First Baptist Church in Natchez.

The festival climaxes with Giuseppe Verdi’s last opera, “Falstaff,” at 8 p.m. at Margaret Martin Performing Arts Center.

There are many other performances in plantation homes and at Memorial Park for your enjoyment. The festival brochure with information about events and tickets are available at the Natchez Pilgrimage Tours ticket office at the Visitor Reception Center, 640 S. Canal St. The phone number is 601-445-6103.

May is an exceptional month for great performances in our city. You are urged to take advantage of this unique opportunity.

Hope to see you at several of these varied performances of stars during this musical month of May.

David Blackburn is founding director of the Natchez Festival of Music.