What to do, see and covet this spring.
ART NOUVEAU
London native Ray Caesar—collected by Madonna, among others—is one of five contemporary artists on display March 29 to April 27 for The Tales We Tell, a group exhibit at Toronto’s Lonsdale Gallery (410 Spadina Rd., 416-487-8733).
BIRD WATCHERS
Charles and Ray Eames enjoyed collecting craft objects on their travels. This one—an 11-inch wooden bird, circa 1910, from the Appalachian Mountains—is seen in many images of the couple’s living room from the ’50s onwards. In cooperation with the Eames family, Vitra is now creating a reproduction ($275, vitra.com).
SUITE MEMORIES
From bijoux wraps (above, $180, plaza-athenee-paris.com) and luggage tags to passport covers and travel wallets, Hotel Plaza Athénée—arguably the most chic hotel in Paris—produces a select collection of leather goods in the same lipstick red as its cheery signature awnings.
SNAKE CHARMER
Not yet out in Canada, the Motorola Motorazr2 V8 Luxury Edition ($695), sheathed in sleek “python,” has fashion-phone fanatics ordering the latest must-have model through eBay and having it shipped, unlocked and activated to a local network.
MONTREAL
Ohad Naharin with les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal April 3 to 5, 10 and 12; from $35; Place des Arts, Théâtre Maisonneuve, 175 Ste-Catherine St. W., 514-842-2112, grandsballets.com. Critically acclaimed choreographer Ohad Naharin has already charmed Canadian audiences with his Batsheva Dance Company. Get ready to be moved and surprised by the Israeli-born talent’s first ballet-sur-pointes, a commission for the Grands Ballets Canadiens.
TORONTO
Eugene Onegin
April 2 to 30; from $60; Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, 145 Queen St. W., coc.ca. The history of this opera offers as much romantic pathos as the production itself. While composing it, the gay Tchaikovsky wed, suffered a breakdown and fled his wife, while Aleksandr Pushkin, who wrote the novel, was later killed in a duel with his wife’s lover—just like one of his main characters.
Photography by Alain Kaiser
CALGARY
Bella
April 12; from $200; Hyatt Regency, 700 Centre St. SE, 403-943-0611, thetrust.ca. Fashion meets philanthropy for the annual Calgary Health Trust fundraiser for women’s health. Last year, Canadian models Heather Marks and Johanna Stickland walked a runway styled by Holt Renfrew.
Measha Brueggergosman brings her voluptuous voice to Toronto’s 95-year-old Elgin Theatre this month. The role of Elettra in Opera Atelier’s production of Idomeneo (tickets from $30, operaatelier.com) marks both her first performance with the innovative company and the acclaimed Canadian soprano’s Mozart opera debut.
Photography by Paul Elledge
VINTAGE LABEL
Fashion and fragrance house Azzaro adds wine to its collections, introducing a merlot, syrah and cabernet ($13 each, azzarowines.com) to Canada. The range also includes whites and champagne.