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.
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1. Sir John Tomlinson
Sir John Tomlinson takes direction from the photographer as he prepares to pass out in front of the fire.
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2. Sir John Tomlinson - December
And the finished result: Sir John Tomlinson, dressed as Father Christmas, collapsed in front of the fireplace.
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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.
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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...
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5. Duncan Rock and Dame Felicity Lott - June
...But it's surprising what a sunny backdrop will lead you to believe!
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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.
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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.
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8. Jonathan Lemalu - October
And here's the finished result, used in the month of October in the Musicians Benevolent Fund charity calendar.
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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...
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10. Nicky Spence - November
Cheeky chappy Nicky Spence shows his serious side in his photo for the Musicians Benevolent Fund calendar.
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11. Lesley Garrett and Trevor Sorbie
Lesley Garrett and her favourite hairdresser, Trevor Sorbie, experiment with hairstyles in preparation for the Opera Offstage shoot.
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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.
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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.
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14. Susan Bickley at the beach
Enjoying the British weather, Susan has a day out at the beach for her Opera Offstage calendar photo.
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15. Susan Bickley - May
May's very own calendar girl, opera star Susan Bickley spends time in her favourite British seaside location.
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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.
