2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating | Page 378 | Golden Skate

2018-19 Russian Ladies' figure skating

Well no, that's not what I argue at all. I'm saying that adding voiceovers and non-musical sounds has become too much of a recognizeable Team Tutberidze gimmic. And that's something I'm starting to dislike, because it's a very noticeable "team signature", so to speak, that distracts from the particular skater when you encounter it again and again in multiple programs. I don't like to be reminded of the choreographer or the coach too much when I'm watching a program. But that's just me and I'm not saying it's a huge deal that totally ruins the program for me. It's just becoming a mild annoyance at this point.

Except other choreographers used voiceovers before her, like Morozov with Elena's Titanic.

In this case as Kostornaya explained in the interview she likes R&J, in particular the film so that's probably why they added those voiceovers.

For me the music cuts in the second half are a little annoying especially because they are so unnecessary: the music is building up, just keep it the way it is.

Perhaps we could talk about Eteri's obsession on creating a story around each program: it's cool but you don't need to do it every single time. Sometimes i just would like to see these beautiful girls skating to a Rachmaninov / Tchaikovsky's piece.

In the end though i think it's hard to argue about who's to blame, cause you still have to look at the overall picture: Kostornaya's skating skills and speed improved with Eteri, so it's not that they are just picking a finished product and ruining everything, i can see real improvements in these girls. Yes you can recognize an Eteri skater almost immediately but that's not necessarily only a bad thing, artistically they are all good to great.

I wish someone tells Eteri or Daniil that sometimes less is more.
 
Okay so Araki from Japan have been removed from Kaunas JGP and changed with Yuhana Yokoi sister Kinayu Yokoi, i guess then Sinitsyna silver is like guaranteed. Best competitor is Yelim Kim, she's not bad but yet to break 180s last season. i think if clean she's gonna get the bronze
 
I think it's too early to tell about Alena's program. She has skated it literally only once, and it clearly wasn't her best performances - her nerves were visible. Probably as the season goes on, she'll grow into it more and begin to perform it more. I think we just need to give her time. Same with Shcherbakova's FS, for what it's worth.
 
Can you clearly explain what is wrong, in your opinion, with FP?
To me, there are several problems with the free. The first would be the voiceovers. It's just impossible for me to take it seriously at that time and I'm just begging for the voiceovers to end.

The second would be that the program's construction isn't good and the highlights aren't utilized well. It's just not very well choreographed to the music, especially the latter half of the program.

The third problem would be that this type of a program doesn't really fit Alena and I don't think that she's the right kind of a skater with the interpretation a RnJ program requires. This was a concern before we could even see her and these two times I've been able to see it certainly haven't changed my stance on this. She lacks the "vulnerability" to portray Juliet properly. I think that she requires pretty specific programs to be at her best. The SP hits the mark a lot better.

Actually, I showed her SP to someone who'd never watched skating before and she thought it was incredible, praising it to high heavens. However, she was totally disinterested by the free. For what that's worth, if anything.
 
You people are too picky, why can’t you all just accept the programs as they are and enjoy them. If you look beyond the imperfections, they’re all beautiful masterpieces.
 
You people are too picky, why can’t you all just accept the programs as they are and enjoy them. If you look beyond the imperfections, they’re all beautiful masterpieces.

Probably, it's just when i watched Kanysheva's FS i was thinking "this is what most of these girls should skate at this stage": classical piece (cause they're all so balletic, they can handle it) with a pretty princessy dress. I had the same feeling the first time i watched Anna's Nocturne SP last season.

But i think Eteri/Daniil are smart, if you build a story behind those programs, as gimmicky as it may be, there are more chances that people (and judges) will remember it.
 
I, on the other hand, am really enjoying the active debate about the strengths and weakness of the programs, and hearing different perspectives.

Not everything is a masterpiece. And not every production or performance of a masterpiece of choreography is of equal excellence in every aspect.
 
You people are too picky, why can’t you all just accept the programs as they are and enjoy them. If you look beyond the imperfections, they’re all beautiful masterpieces.

Um, it’s called having an opinion, not blindly stanning everything even when it’s crappy and also, that’s literally the opposite of what a masterpiece is.
 
Just me being curious but why Medvedeva‘s SP routine? What does Chopin have to do with it? :biggrin:

And I know about Averbukh and I actually always enjoyed his programs (kind of in the minority) but I didn‘t want to name him because well... people aren‘t too fond of his programs here, I think. :shrug:

Sorry, I meant LP...mind blank.

Well I know it's a matter of taste and style, but his routines were always more original than the copy paste routines from most women skaters. He added more controversy and drama to everything.
 
I feel like Ilya Averbuch should continue to help team Eteri.

I enjoyed Alena's music in the SP, but her LP just doesn't do it for me. She is far too elegant and sophisticated for that. All I kept thinking is that they recycled Medvedeva's only LP routine from last season and Liptniskaya's LP from 2014/2015. It's just not as original. Same goes for most of the LPs of the juniors this season.

Not bad programs, just not everyone's cup of tea.

First, disagree about Averbukh. If he ever choreographs for Alena....... I don’t know what will happen. lol

Second, I thought Alena’s SP was very Medvedevaesque. I could easily picture Evgenia skating that program(apart from the super difficult transitions that only Alena can pull of that elegantly). But like, choreography-wise, it reminded me of Evgenia.
And did you guys notice the very similar move that appears both in Alena’s SP and Evgenia’s SP last season? That move with the “come back” voice over. Which was also used on her 9/11 program.
Of course it isn’t exactly the same exact move but it’s similar enough that I immediately thought “hey, it’s that Medvedeva move!” [emoji23]
 
On vocals and voice-overs though, one thing to keep in mind is that native or fluent speakers of whatever language can't help processing the sense of the words, or at least trying to.

So, it becomes important to be aware that the meaning of the words is important, and that the attempt to make sense of the meaning can be distracting.

If it's just sound, as in jazz or abstract music, that's one thing but intelligible or almost intelligible words are another.

Personally, I find poorly enunciated opera pieces in French equally distracting. I just can't seem to turn my brain off and process the sound as music.

Oh, this is why I like these (healthy) discussions!
That’s a good point and something I hadn’t thought about.
 
somehow it looks like Daniil is very good in making SP (last season pretty much all his SPs were very good, Zagitova/Tarakanova/Kostornaia/Trusova, literally every single one of them, with the exception of Panenkova may be, but that's a different case), but free programs are usually a bit worse,

It seems most skaters and choreographers are better at performing and choreographing SPs... though I know of a few exceptions. I'd be interesting to see if getting two free skates choreographed early in summer and getting an SP done last would help things. TBH, I think this is a bit of a problem more with Russians than other countries because skating power isn't emphasized as much and it limits what things can be done choreographically.
 
Okay so Araki from Japan have been removed from Kaunas JGP and changed with Yuhana Yokoi sister Kinayu Yokoi, i guess then Sinitsyna silver is like guaranteed. Best competitor is Yelim Kim, she's not bad but yet to break 180s last season. i think if clean she's gonna get the bronze

I guess, she even has not broken 170 yet. Well, another planned gold and silver. If Sinitsina's score is about 190 it will be a big discussion who of the silvers will have the second spot. I root for Tarusina.

Another interesting thing is that Japan wants Nana to avoid Eteri's "big three". It means that they hope to see her in the final. Whom do we have at the fourth stage? May be it will be good for Anna S second event? What about Gubanova, Tarakanova, and Gulyakova? I remember Vasilyeva from the last season and I am not sure that she should take a precious spot.
 
when is the test skates again? its in few days right?

I am glad you reminded. Yes, they are this Sunday and there is a thread in the edge. Just need to find it and lift it up.

I fly back to Moscow from Africa on Thursday. On Friday I fly to Sochi to take the kids. And on Sunday test skates. The season starts for me. So excited!
 
Kostornaia is so elegant. Great great great skating skills and the jumps were very good as well. I hope this season she can win more often. Nobody’s really speaking about the fact that she didn’t even do 3a in practice though? Anna did her 4lutz last week, just not in the program but Alenka did not even show it in practice? It still seems like her program is choreographed for it to eventually be the first jump element.
 
The third problem would be that this type of a program doesn't really fit Alena and I don't think that she's the right kind of a skater with the interpretation a RnJ program requires. This was a concern before we could even see her and these two times I've been able to see it certainly haven't changed my stance on this. She lacks the "vulnerability" to portray Juliet properly. I think that she requires pretty specific programs to be at her best. The SP hits the mark a lot better.

I agree only with this item in your message. But for me it was an interpretation of Juliet's image, a rejection of his classical perception. "Kostornaya-style" Julieta. Alena is very suitable for such an experiment - she can be delightfully smooth, tender but at the same time looks like a fatal woman, a proud unattainable beauty. It is interesting - to try to depict the old image with a new palette.

P.S. The most important - Alena and Anna has complex, sophisticated programs that are sensitive to the quality of their performance. And this is their first competition of the season. And you guys, in fact, require them to presented immediately brilliantly. Hold your horses.

P.P.S. The little problem is also in the horrible recording of Alena's presentation (at least on ISU Junior Grand Prix channel). In the second part of the video, the record gets a little bit faster. It's easy to see by the little fussy and jerky movements of spectators in the background. I was hoping for a complete record, but in it the sound is shifted for a few minutes and Alena starts the performance under the final applause. In fact, personally, I saw her presentation in normal quality only once - on the translation. Thanks a lot, Austrian organizers.
 
I must say that I think all the negative coments about Alenas FP is a bit to hard (both on her and Danil). I think the first parts of Alenas FP is good. For me the problems come in the later parts when the music is more powerful and she doesnt really portray that change in music and her interpretation is to "plain" (not really true but cant think of a better word) and she is overshadowed by the music.
This they can hopefully work on and I hope she will deliver more later on in the season. It was afterall her first competition with this program and as many has stated she looked a little bit tense.
 
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