As we gear up for our 15th party this spring, let’s look back at 15 stand-out moments that helped make
Operanation one of the Toronto culture scene’s hottest tickets.
# 1Party-goers at the very first Operanation held at the Four Seasons Centre in 2006.
#2Colourful Vespas welcomed guests to the Italian-themed Operanation: La Dolce Vita in 2007.
#3Guests at Operanation: La Dolce Vita (2007) enjoyed an atmospheric fashion show on the grand staircase, showcasing clothing by Italian designers such as Versace and Moschino.
#4Guests entered the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts through a Parisian boulevard-inspired walkway at Operanation: La Vie Bohème (2008).
#5Inspired by the opera
Carmen, Operanation: Habanera (2010) featured many touches of Spanish culture, including a fiery tango performance.
#6It was a magical night for Operanation: Cinderella guests in 2010, who were greeted with a carriage and pumpkins. (Glass slippers: optional.)
#7
Hadrian wasn't the first time composer and singer-songwriter Rufus Wainwright got involved with the COC – he was also the feature performer at Operanation: A Muse Ball.
#8Barchef, Frankie Solarik and Société Perrier create tempting concoctions at Operanation: Sweet Revenge (2012).
#9Canadian pop icon Nelly Furtado performed at Operanation: Sweet Revenge in 2012.
#10Operanation: Night of Temptation (2013) featured a “Garden of Eden” vibe, complete with glittery apples on each tree.
#11Then-Ensemble Studio member Ambur Braid joined Sam Roberts Band for an operatic collaboration in 2013.
#12French electro-pop artist YELLE drove the audience “
complètement fou” during her performance at Operanation: Light Up the Night (2015).
#13When she returned for Operanation: Queen of the Night (2016), Ambur Braid rocked the famous
Magic Flute aria in an epic collaboration with Dragonette.
#14Gillian G. live-painted a mural on the windows of the Four Seasons Centre during Operanation: Queen of the Night.
#15All proceeds from Operanation support the COC Ensemble Studio, a training program for Canada’s top young artists. At Operanation: Into the Stars (2018), they treated guests to an intimate performance of Rufus Wainwright melodies and original arrangements.
Operanation: Tall Tales is on Thursday, May 16, 2019. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit
operanation.ca.
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Photo credits (top to bottom): Operanation 2007, photo: Natalie Petozzi; Operanation 2007 fashion show, photo: Mark Ridout; Operanation 2008, photo: Mark Ridout; Operanation: Habenera, 2010, photo: COC; Operanation: Cinderella, 2010, photo: Eyecontact Photography; Operanation 2011, photos: Eyecontact Photography; Operanation, 2012, photos: Tom Sandler; Operanation, 2013, photos: Tara Noelle; Operanation, 2016, photo: Evan Bergstra; Operanation, 2016, photo: Ryan Emberley; Artists of the 2017/2018 Ensemble Studio, Operanation, 2018, photo: Gaetz Photography
