I suspected that there will be less originality in terms of programs, tht there will be a stream of warhorses coming, but so far it's really looking like we're in for a full vintage Olympic season
As a FS viewer who is really 'a sucker' for unorthodox, bold, unexpected choices, risks taken, originality and 'out-there' factor in terms of music/take on convention, it is disappointing to see old programs brought back on the table. Saying that, I agree with
chapis that they all want to give themselves the best shot to win in terms of perfecting/stabilizing technical content and execution, so using old prgrams/music - especially if it was successful in the past - will give some 'assurance' level into preparations. I would not be really surprised if Jin will keep one of his last season's programs
As for Javier - I am interested what he'll come with regarding that SP to Charlie Chaplin; there will be less time and 'space' to tell/portray a 'big story', but his SPs for me always managed to capture music's spirit, create a certain character in them and still have Javier in them. But I'm even more excited for this mysterious Spanish-themed FS...Yes, I know we had 'Malaguena' SP which played greatly on Javier's heritage as a Spaniard, but my wish would be him doing a full Flamenco variation, with that folk, local feel about it, with playing on tradition and modernity in that.
As for Yuzuru...Well, this is a disappointment for me to repeat Chopin's 'Ballade' SP, but probably for different reason that majority there - for me, it's just a pity to 'waste' Yuzuru's artistic/interpretation abilities and musicality, to not explore them more in something new (I know, there will be new FS, but still...). Chopin's SP is a beautiful, evoking program, don't get me wrong, and I think that re-using it won't make it less beautiful or ugly due to doing it alone - it just won't be that excitement factor I love to feel, that 'uncovering', discovering process thorough the season with entirely new program of a skater. I'm with
4everchan on 'Ballade' cuts in terms of giving the program new flavour, amping it - inclusion of that 'middle' part of the piece would be a novelty and spin that program into something we know, yet we want to know better I feel...And just personally, I had a wish that Yuzuru would do a SP to Prokofiev's 'March of Knights' from 'Romeo and Juliett - this is a piece I've always wanted him skate to, because he has a rare sense how to 'moderate' the drama of the music and translate it onto ice, movement to agree with the music, not let it rule,overpower the whole performance. But wishes are wishes
