Recognition of skating performance by musicians (and other artists!)

[LutzDance]

This week we saw Philip Glass’s acknowledgment of Nathan’s free skate, and Jennifer Thomas nodded to skaters (Rika, Juhnwan, Alexandra Feigin, Koshiro) using her music several times this season. Joshua Bell’s shoutout to Zhenya’s Olympic performance is also memorable to me. I’m sure there’s a lot more recognition of skaters/skating programs from musicians out there, and thought it would be fun to make a collection

ETA: Feel free to share acknowledgements from artists of any trade as long as they are connected to the skater’s program in some way! (eg. a dancer/choreographer who worked on the same piece of music/style of dance as the skater; just trying to keep it relevant)

 

[el henry]

What a great idea for a thread.

Reaching into the wayback machine, Riverdance composer Bill Whelan tweets to Jason Brown in 2014:

Your emotional and soaring performance of Reel Around the Sun was just stunning. Thank you and continue success Bill Whelan

https://twitter.com/ShivnaBill/status/424581081409798144

 

[Lamente Ariane]

I recall the pianist who did the arrangement of Madame Butterfly that Satoko Miyahara skated to in the Olympics actually met Satoko and played for her in late 2018, but I’m blanking on his name unfortunately.

 

[Dreamer57]

Luca D'Alberto seeing Alena Kostornaia's free skate to My Way & Yellow Moon at the Russian Cup Final

I can feel a depth of emotion in my heart in seeing @aliona_officialnew Alena Kostornaia, the European 2020 champion, performing on my music.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CMFFtqSqDPz/

 

[Minz]

Lin-Manuel Miranda himself tweeted about Jason Brown’s SP to “The Room Where It Happens”

 

[LutzDance]

I recall the pianist who did the arrangement of Madame Butterfly that Satoko Miyahara skated to in the Olympics actually met Satoko and played for her in late 2018, but I’m blanking on his name unfortunately.

Thank you for bringing this up! I did a quick search - his name is John Bayless
https://tinyqueensatoko.tumblr.com/post/181977428203/blog-post-thank-you-very-much

Lin-Manuel Miranda himself tweeted about Jason Brown’s SP to “The Room Where It Happens”

Ahh how could I not think of this when I made the post - the most iconic crossover between Broadway and figure skating!

 

[4everchan]

Chopin said Patrick's Chopin was the best program on his music ever skated.
Seriously, it's a nice thread. However, I cannot contribute much more to it as I tend to care more about dead composers than living ones If I remember something, I will mention it...

Oh.. it came... Eric Radford loved Patrick's rendition of Journey but yeah... that one was also easy

PS i am not really that obsessed with Patrick ... oh yeah... I am

 

[lappo]

Yasmin Levy (author of Me Voy) about Alina's choice: https://somuchloveforalina.tumblr.c...yasmin-levy-author-and-composer-of-me-voy-via
If I'm correct, Alina was also given a shout out by the singer of her Afro Blue exhibition, but I cannot find it.
This is a great idea for a thread! It would be cool to also add recognition from artists other than musicians (dancers, directors, choreographers, movie stars), as I can remember several of those.

 

[LutzDance]

However, I cannot contribute much more to it as I tend to care more about dead composers than living ones

As someone who also prefer dead composers, I can empathize haha. I would love to hear the opinions of Adolphe Adam or Marius Petipa on Nathan’s Le Corsaire too

would be cool to also add recognition from artists other than musicians (dancers, directors, choreographers, movie stars), as I can remember several of those.

Excellent idea! I edited my post to reflect your suggestion. It reminds me of all the recognitions (and collaborations) John Curry received from the ballet world. Will find the quotes when I’m not feeling lazy

 

[Minz]

IIRC, I believe that believe that Pablo Picasso’s granddaughter noticed Kamila Valieva’s ‘Girl on a Ball” program (this was back when she was a novice) and was so impressed that she actually invited Kamila to visit in Paris!

 

[randomfan]

I recall the pianist who did the arrangement of Madame Butterfly that Satoko Miyahara skated to in the Olympics actually met Satoko and played for her in late 2018, but I’m blanking on his name unfortunately.

Thank you for bringing this up! I did a quick search - his name is John Bayless
https://tinyqueensatoko.tumblr.com/post/181977428203/blog-post-thank-you-very-much

Yup! And also, the arrangement of her Schindler's List last season was also by John Bayless. IIRC, Satoko said she went to one of his concerts, heard this arrangement, and chose to skate to it. Roman Sadovsky also used it the season before.

 

[lappo]

Excellent idea! I edited my post to reflect your suggestion. It reminds me of all the recognitions (and collaborations) John Curry received from the ballet world. Will find the quotes when I’m not feeling lazy

Thanks, I'm gonna add some then:
- directors:
Steven Spielberg wrote this letter to Yulia to thank her for skating such a brilliant program to Schindler's List: https://davaistoi.tumblr.com/post/81139374573/iinioi-letter-from-steven-spielberg-to-yulia/amp
Barry Jenkins (director of Moonlight) wrote this about Alina's performace of Black Swan (who contained a piece of the score of his film): https://twitter.com/outroex/status/1134688314362093568
- actors:
Hugh Jackman congratulated Yuna for skating to Les Miserables: https://olympics.nbcsports.com/2012...-yu-na-is-certain-to-win-sochi-olympics-2014/
Russel Crowe congratulated Yagudin for skating to The Gladiator: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/yagudin-shows-his-mettle/article25435354/
- dancers:
recently Natalia Osipova, prima of the Royal Ballet, congratulated Kamila for her Bolero performance at Russian Nationals: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/yagudin-shows-his-mettle/article25435354/
I know Russian dancers have congratulated many other skaters in the past but I cannot find the sources on those.
Last but not least, @Minz already mentioned Picasso's granddaugher congratulated Kamila for her Girl on Ball program: https://www.picuki.com/media/1992106203326311355

 

[DenissVFan]

Two artists acknowledged Deniss's programmes last season:

 

[Clairecz]

Javi's Prometo by Pablo Alboran.
[In 2018]
"Best of all, after the Montreal show, Fernandez got a message from Albaron himself, congratulating him on his Olympic medal and thanking him for using his music.

“I was sort of hoping that as artists, the two of them would get together,” Bezic admitted. “I think they kind of have the same heart, that romantic, gentle side.”

And then Alboran appeared in Javi's Revolution on ice playing and singing Prometo for him live (and it was a surprise for the audience)

Sorprendente aparición de Pablo Alborán con Javier Fernández - Prometo

Ver patinar a Javier Fernandez con Pablo Alborán al piano en directo interpretando "Prometo" fue inolvidable. El broche de oro perfecto para una gira maravil...

youtu.be

 

[GoneWithTheWind]

In happier times for their partnership, Duhamel/Radford used April Meservy's cover of With or Without You which later ended up in the iTunes Top 40. She ended up meeting them, attending Canadian Nats. 2018 to watch them perform to it, and an anonymous donor(s) paid for her to go to Pyeongchang to see them perform there too: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bd6BHktA_2C/

Cellist/Composer Lamberto Curtoni thanked Guignard/Fabbri for their work with him when he premiered one of his pieces at 2018 Worlds. He was on the ice with his cello, while they skated to his piece: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg0o_U2BcE4/

Sleeping at Last gave Della Monica/Guarise a shout-out for using his piece 'Saturn' in their free skate at Worlds this season: https://www.instagram.com/p/CNEBuwIhAUO/

 

[iluvtodd]

Gordon Lightfoot (my favorite singer/songwriter) acknowledged Kurt Browning skating to "If You Could Read My Mind" in the Canadian 2019 SOI tour @ one of his concerts. When we attended a US SOI holiday show in December 2019, we got to talk to Kurt after the show & thanked him for skating to the song (even though we never got to see his performance of it on the CSOI tour in person, thank you, Youtube!). Kurt had very complimentary things to say about Gordon & I have no doubt the feeling is mutual.

 

[kolyadafan2002]

Edvin Marton and Plushenko (Edvin did most of Plushenkos music arrangements and called him a true "artist on ice" when plushenko skated to art on ice and magic stradavariaus.

 

[lappo]

Some more dancers:
- Tetsuya Kumakawa, a former principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, about Yuzuru Hanyu: https://yuzusorbet.tumblr.com/post/152147482607/tetsuya-kumakawa-is-a-japanese-ballet-dancer-and-a
- Also a tribute to Yuzuru's Notte Stellata by a dance school: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmzVx2P7TYM and another one by the same school inspired by Haru Yo Koi: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WxbkG2U28wo
- Maya Plisetskaya, the legend herself, about Plushenko: https://evgeni-plushenko.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=268&p=56790#p56790
- Roberto Bolle (super famous Italian dancer) about Plushenko: http://evgeniplushenkoitalia.blogspot.com/2015/05/roberto-bolle-e-maya-plisetskaya-su.html (unfortunately only in Italian): http://evgeniplushenkoitalia.blogspot.com/2015/05/roberto-bolle-e-maya-plisetskaya-su.html

 

[lady_bee]

I think Milva made a comment for Shoma's Roco program, but I can't remember exactly.
R.I.P., Milva.

 

[LutzDance]

So promised post regarding John Curry:

Elton John and the Royal Ballet congratulating his Olympic win (from the documentary The Ice King):
https://twitter.com/jacqueline4fun/status/1386342808370417672?s=21
Someone familiar with telegrams might have an explanation for all the typos

Anthony Dowell, former principle dancer and director at the royal ballet (and my favourite dancer ), to whom John Curry was often compared to, said: “...He had the line of a dancer. It’s a way you’re taught in ballet to present your whole self...”
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=5kGiobYYXoA&t=166s

Kenneth MacMillan, former Royal Ballet choreographer and director (and one of my favourite choreographers ) when he first met John:

“I want to do a ballet for you. Will you let me?”

https://www.kennethmacmillan.com/feux-follets

Since John was so involved in the ballet world, many comments from that side were more about the collaborative experience than an acknowledgement, and it really speaks to his achievement in bringing the two worlds together.