Operanation 9: Sweet Revenge, held at the Four Seasons Centre for Performing Arts on October 18, featuring singer Nelly Furtado and The Arkells as celebrity guests. This year’s event, called “Sweet Revenge,” celebrates Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss, which will be at the Four Seasons Centre until the end of the month. The opera’s plot, which sounds like it could have been on Dynasty or Melrose Place, features mistaken identity, murder and of course, a prison sentence.
As usual, style was an important component of this year’s Operanation. Last year, the event featured live mannequins wearing clothes by very established Canadian designers like Joeffer Caoc and David Dixon, but this year, Operanation decided to have a more organic approach and featured designs by Ryerson students and alumni that were inspired by the costumes of Die Fledermaus. Three designers – Jill Dickieson, David Chou and Sarah Elizabeth Graham – were picked to have their looks presented in an installation at the event. Of course, the highlight of the event was a performance by Nelly Furtado who got everyone rockin’.
And finally, Operanation is NOT Operanation without delicious food. This year, there was a grilled cheese bar serving three different types of mini sandwiches, including my personal favourite, Brie with strawberry preserve. There were also featured cocktails and standard hors d’oeuvres. In addition, pastry shop, Nadege Patisserie, located in the Summerhill area of the city (and another location on Queen, west of Bathurst), created delicious macarons (among other things) that was not only sweet, but had a bit of a kick due to the chili. Sweet and spicy, just like the theme.
