January
On the stage
Batten down the hatches for English National Opera’s splendidly silly production of Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance at the London Coliseum, until February 21. Tickets from £10 (www.eno.org)
Art and culture
Somerset House celebrates its 25th anniversary with an array of exhibitions and events throughout the year, beginning with ‘SOIL: The World at Our Feet’—which aims to unearth the vital role soil plays in our planet’s future. January 23–April 13; tickets from £15 (www.somersethouse.org.uk)
Music
On January 31, the Nu Civilisation Orchestra will celebrate the life and music of Nina Simone in Mississippi Goddam at the Royal Festival Hall, led by conductor Peter Edwards. Special guests include Corinne Bailey Rae. Tickets from £25 (www.southbankcentre.co.uk)
February
Art and culture
‘Goya to Impressionism: Masterpieces from the Oskar Reinhart collection’ opens at The Courtauld on Valentine’s Day. The exhibition, which runs until May 26, will feature exceptional Impressionist and post Impressionist paintings on loan outside Switzerland for the first time. Standard tickets are £14 (www.courtauld.ac.uk)
On the stage
The Royal Opera at the February 6–11. Tickets, from £50, are sold out (at the time of going to print), but check the website for returns ()