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Mon 29 Dec 2025 07.00 CET
Mazeppa by Tchaikovsky at Grange Park Opera, Surrey
David Stout played Mazeppa and Rachel Nicholls was Mariya in David Pountney’s production, which opened in June. Tristram Kenton says: ‘I loved this scene involving a motorbike doing a wheelie. Completely mad – I had to include it!’ Read our review
Semele by Handel at the Royal Opera House, London
‘It’s not every day I’m able to photograph the famous mezzo-soprano, Alice Coote, lying on a mountain of discarded bottles, smoking a cigarette! Semele had an incredibly detailed design by Annemarie Woods and probably the best scene of the year depicting debauched chaos. Also, a superb performance by Pretty Yende in the title role.’ Read our review
A Midsummer Night’s Dream by Britten at Glyndebourne, East Sussex
‘The 1981 Glyndebourne production by Peter Hall, designed by John Bury, still looks beautiful after 44 years. Here, Puck is looking up very guiltily towards Oberon.’ Read our review
Partenope by Handel at the London Coliseum
Jake Ingbar played Armindo and Katie Bray was Rosmira in this ENO production which opened last month. ‘There were many absurd moments to photograph in this revival,’ says Kenton. Read our review
Albert Herring by Britten at the London Coliseum
Natasha Oldbury was Cis and Abigail Sinclair played Emmie for ENO in October. ‘This new production designed and directed by Antony McDonald was a lot of fun to photograph – and to perform in, I imagine. I love the schoolgirls playing catch with the baby,’ says Kenton. Read our review
Garland by Oliver Leith at Bold Tendencies, Peckham, London
‘The car park in southeast London used by Bold Tendencies has great acoustics and an alternative look.’ Read our review
Faust by Charles-François Gounod at the Royal Opera House, London
‘There was so much dynamic choreography and so many scene-stealing moments in this production.’ Read our review
Dead Man Walking (Jake Heggie) at the London Coliseum
‘I was in awe of Michael Mayes’ (centre) extraordinary athletic performance as the condemned man Joseph De Rocher in this new production by English National Opera of Heggie’s opera. At one point he manages about 40 push-ups, while still singing. This was given five stars by some reviewers; I found it profoundly depressing and almost unwatchable,’ says Kenton. Read our five-star review
Die Walküre at the Royal Opera House, London
Natalya Romaniw as Sieglinde, kneeling, in Die Walküre. ‘A new production featuring an extraordinary stage design with a burning tree and battle-weary, muddy Valkyries.’ Read our review
Aida at the Royal Opera House, London
George Andguladze (King of Egypt) and Raehann Bryce-Davis (Amneris), top right, in Aida. ‘Director Robert Carsen updates Verdi’s opera to a present-day totalitarian state. Weapons and the brilliantly choreographed army are omnipresent,’ says Kenton. Read our review
Festen at the Royal Opera House, London
Stéphane Degout (Michael) and Gerald Finley (Helge) in Festen by Mark-Anthony Turnage, a Royal Ballet and Opera world premiere.‘This was a harrowing and uncomfortable watch at times. Here, director Richard Jones ratchets up the tension with these potentially lethal weapons in the kitchen,’ says Kenton. Read our review
Parsifal at Glyndebourne, East Sussex
‘Kristina Stanek (Kundry) showing steely, inner resolve in this new production of Parsifal by Wagner.’ Read our review
The Railway Children at Glyndebourne, East Sussex
Henna Mun (Phyllis), Matthew McKinney (Peter) and Jessica Cale (Bobbie) in The Railway Children by Mark-Anthony Turnage. ‘A new production at Glyndebourne. I was keen to see how they’d do the flag waving moment so here it is,’ says Kenton. Read our review
Il Barbiere Di Siviglia at Glyndebourne, East Sussex
Cecilia Molinari (Rosina) in Rossini’s Il Barbiere Di Siviglia. ‘Fast-paced fun in this popular opera at Glyndebourne’
Tosca at the Royal Opera House, London
Anna Netrebko (Floria Tosca) and Freddie De Tommaso (Mario Cavaradossi) in Tosca. ‘This production saw Netrebko back at the Royal Ballet and Opera after a long absence in an updated, violent and bloody new staging by Oliver Mears,’ says Kenton. Read our review
Susanna at Leeds Grand theatre
‘Opera North in collaboration with Phoenix Dance Theatre with Susanna continually being subjected to the male gaze.’ Read our reviewExplore more on these topics
