The Musicians Benevolent Fund is launching a special calendar, 'Opera Offstage', featuring a light-hearted glimpse of favourite opera names enjoying some much needed time off. The 2013 calendar will retail at £12 and will be sold alongside the Musicians Benevolent Fund’s 2012 Christmas Collection.

The idea for the calendar came from Scottish tenor and ENO Harewood Artist, Nicky Spence, who is an ambassador for the charity. Among the stars featured are Renée Fleming, Susan Bullock, Dame Felicity Lott, Elizabeth Watts, Gerald Finley, Sir John Tomlinson and Spence himself.

The Musicians Benevolent Fund has been supporting both established and budding musicians for more than 90 years.

See selected pictures from the calendar below. Click the first image to launch the gallery.

All photos © Christina Haldane