Cynthia Cheng Mintz
Featuring delctable nibblies catered by Rose Reisman Catering and musical performances from indie band, Broken Social Scene and Clara Venice, the Canadian Opera Company‘s annual fundraiser, Operanation, was a huge success this past Friday, October 29 and this year, celebrates Rossini’s La Cenerentola (Cinderella). The event, which was held at the Canadian Opera Company’s home, the Four Seasons Centre, not only had a carriage outside (with pumpkins, but not horses), but guests were also treated to trumpeters when they entered the building (playing the Grand March from Aida – wrong opera, but it works very well as a fanfaric entrance piece).
The party was packed. Attendees’ clothes ranged from formal to cocktail, and some were even in costume. Not sure if they were meant to come in as opera characters (saw someone in military-esque dress – I think he was meant to be Don Jose from Carmen and another in eighteenth century dress, probably as a generic character from any opera from that period) or if it’s because Halloween is on Sunday. There were also people who were eccentrically dressed.
The food at Operanation VI, as with previous Operanations, was excellent. There was a carving station as well as cheese and dessert stations. Servers came around with delightful nibblies like mini grilled cheeses. With entertainment, guests got to hear a funky mishmash of opera and indie rock with band. However, one nitpick is that opera does NOT sound good with mics, at least not at the lobby of the Four Seasons. Later that evening, opera singer, Clara Venice performed. In addition to live entertainment and amazing food, make-up and beauty store, Murale was there to give make-overs and Hello! magazine had a photobooth. It was a magical night, and no one’s dress turned back into rags at the stroke of midnight.
Note: Rossini’s La Ceneretola will be performed from April 23 to May 25, 2011. It is interesting to note that The National Ballet of Canada (who also calls the Four Seasons Centre home) will also be performing Cinderella (music by Sergei Prokofiev, choreography by James Kudelka) this season, from November 11 to 20. Too bad Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella is not performed on stage too often. If it were to play at the Four Seasons Centre in the summer of 2011, it would complete the season.
