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    Opera Offstage: behind the scenes

    Ever wondered what opera singers get up to in their spare time? Artists including Lesley Garrett, Renée Fleming, and Sir John Tomlinson teamed up to create the charity calendar, Opera Offstage, where they revealed their favourite hobbies. From photoshoot to finished product, have a look at what these singers got up to behind the scenes.

    1. Opera Offstage Backstage

      1. Sir John Tomlinson

      Sir John Tomlinson takes direction from the photographer as he prepares to pass out in front of the fire.

    2. opera off stage calendar

      2. Sir John Tomlinson - December

      And the finished result: Sir John Tomlinson, dressed as Father Christmas, collapsed in front of the fireplace.

    3. Opera Offstage Backstage

      3. Duncan Rock gets a make up touch-up

      It's not just the sopranos in the opera world who need a make up artist. Duncan Rock glams up before his photo shoot with Dame Felicity Lott.

    4. Opera Offstage Backstage

      4. Duncan Rock and Dame Felicity Lott

      Unfortunately these two singing stars didn't jet off to sunnier climes to get the best photo of themselves on a sun lounger...

    5. opera off stage calendar

      5. Duncan Rock and Dame Felicity Lott - June

      ...But it's surprising what a sunny backdrop will lead you to believe!

    6. Opera Offstage Backstage

      6. Nicky Spence, Duncan Rock and photographer Christina Haldane

      Nicky Spence, the singer behind the idea for the Opera Offstage calendar, relaxes after a photo shoot with Duncan Rock.

    7. Opera Offstage Backstage

      7. Johnathan and Joshua Lemalu

      Batman and Robin, aka Jonathan Lemalu and his son, seek out the best superhero locations for their Opera Offstage photo shoot.

    8. opera off stage calendar

      8. Jonathan Lemalu - October

      And here's the finished result, used in the month of October in the Musicians Benevolent Fund charity calendar.

    9. Opera Offstage Backstage

      9. Nicky Spence makes the most of the sunshine

      Nicky looks surprisingly cheerful in relation to his picture in the Musicians Benevolent Fund calendar, where he is featured getting a tattoo...

    10. opera off stage calendar

      10. Nicky Spence - November

      Cheeky chappy Nicky Spence shows his serious side in his photo for the Musicians Benevolent Fund calendar.

    11. lesley garrett calendar

      11. Lesley Garrett and Trevor Sorbie

      Lesley Garrett and her favourite hairdresser, Trevor Sorbie, experiment with hairstyles in preparation for the Opera Offstage shoot.

    12. opera off stage calendar

      12. Lesley Garrett - April

      And after a hard day in the salon, this is the photo the Musicians Benevolent Fund decided to use in their charity calendar.

    13. Opera Offstage Backstage

      13. Nicky Spence and Lesley Garrett

      Luckily Lesley was having a good hair day at the Opera Offstage calendar launch party, with fellow calendar pin-up, Nicky Spence.

    14. Opera Offstage Backstage

      14. Susan Bickley at the beach

      Enjoying the British weather, Susan has a day out at the beach for her Opera Offstage calendar photo.

    15. opera off stage calendar

      15. Susan Bickley - May

      May's very own calendar girl, opera star Susan Bickley spends time in her favourite British seaside location.

    16. Opera Offstage Backstage

      16. Duncan Rock gets a make up touch-up

      Duncan Rock looks surprisingly different in a shirt and glasses, rather than an elasticated bow tie, performing at the Opera Offstage launch party.

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