The Canadian Opera Company’s event, Operanation, which raises funds for the Ensemble Studio, celebrated its 10th event on October 24, once again with an amazing party at the COC’s home, the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts.  Inspired by Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte (which will run at the COC from January 18 to February 21, 2014), it is a story about temptation, switched identities and all the craziness that could have been part of an 80s or 90s evening soap like Dynasty or Melrose Place.  Heck, it could even be a reality show!

As with the past, the highlight of the event was the celebrity performance.  With past artists like Broken Social Scene and Nelly Furtado, Operanation 2013 welcomed the Sam Roberts Band, who performed sang Ensemble Studio alumna, Ambur Braid.  Sam Roberts Band X KAELEN for Operanation tees were also available for sale (can still be purchased online).  Then, there was delicious food.  Since this year’s theme centred around temptation, not only were there passed hors d’oeuvres, but also a mac and cheese bar (served in a tiny bowl/ramekins, complete with toppings to choose from that included chili peppers, broccoli, ketchup and mushrooms) and of course, lovely sweets.  The event was, as in previous years, on three levels.  The hors d’oeuvres and mac and cheese were on the ground floor, followed by delicious apple-based desserts (which included an apple cheese cake parfait and apple bread pudding) on the second floor and Black Forest cake bar (which I first thought was a brownie bar, considering the bite-sized pieces of chocolate cake) on the third.  One thing I have to say about the cake bar was that there weren’t enough toppings.  Who says that Black Forest cake has to only involve cherries, whipped cream and chocolate shavings?  I would have loved to see more creativity with that!  Oh well, maybe next year.