Mao Asada | Page 161 | Golden Skate

Mao Asada

largeman said:
I totally agree too!

I keep imagining an LP that can showcase both her soft, lyrical qualities and her powerful, dramatic side. Something to the effect of Yuna's Les Miz (I don't really like that program and its music cuts, but I think it's a fine example of a program that is dynamic and shows off a skater's range).
Click to expand...

To me, Mao's Sochi Lp is the perfect combination of these I have ever seen combined with Mao having a powerful inter-subjectivity with the mood and emotions of the music and the composer, Rachmaninoff, himself. In addition to the technical virtuosity and the wide range of expression from subtle to powerful, they both experienced professional setbacks and personal tragedies prior to their legendary achievements: Mao with the passing of her mother and Rachmaninoff with the passing of his close friend, Tchaikovsky with the 2nd concerto being heavily influenced by Tchaikovsky's 1st concerto. That Mao's epic performance happened on the grand stage of the Olympic games in Russia while performing to a quintessential Russian composition makes it even more legendary in historical terms. The fact that Rachmaninoff himself had to flee his country for safety during the Russian revolution because he was an enemy of the new Soviet regime bares some resemblance to how Mao's performance was undervalued and "rejected" by heavily biased judges that tried to degrade her achievement, though of course exile is far more extreme. However, it is a process that continues against Mao to this day.

I agree it would be nice to have something to show a bigger mix of power, lyricism and more contrasting moods, but I really loved Mao's programs from last season and felt they both did have a display of power especially in the step sequences. Plus, I am willing to accept Mao for what she wants to do because her programs don't disappoint me and she is the one who has to skate to them.
 
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urara said:
Mao seems to be working with Lori in Toronto now.
from Zijun's Weibo
http://www.weibo.com/p/1003061911237367/album?from=page_100306&mod=TAB#_loginLayer_1461833309193

I wanted Mao to try other choreographers, but she must be happy and comfortable with Lori.
Lori, please give us a big surprise (in a good way, of course)
Click to expand...

Mao can pull off any choreography but I think her relationship and bond with Lori gives her more confidence in coming up with something good so even though sometimes I'm not completely happy with the work, I'm not totally against it.

and I'm just itching for the GP announcements, Mao should come to Skate Canada, then Lori can also attend the competition because it's so close to home. Plus Mao comes to GTA every year for choreography, should be a familiar enough place for her to feel comfortable. I want to see her so badly.
 
Here are a lot of high quality photos I found of Mao's programs

Photos Madame Butterfly- powerfully expressive program in the classical style with swift fluidity, transcendent beauty and expansive range of movement and emotions as only Mao can do

http://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/04/GettyImages-518793854.jpg

http://blog-imgs-86.fc2.com/h/f/k/hfkkj/20151228121908326.jpg

http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/7376e4c7gw1exsqrp79a0j214f1ondva.jpg

http://d1udmfvw0p7cd2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/sp-jack-a-20151111.jpg

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201604/05/86/e0337786_11290460.jpg

http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/bdfcf896jw1eyczbzqjbzj21vc2motou.jpg

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/0a4bdb82bc25d831860f6a7067008438.jpg

http://d4.yimg.com/sr/imgv1/1/b89cdc5f-8a7c-3545-9bdc-a5fcf88727b5?.jpg

http://lpt.c.yimg.jp/amd/20160409-00000052-dal-000-view.jpg

http://blog-imgs-84.fc2.com/b/a/r/barcarollefantasie/2740.jpg

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...049719_RTRMADP_3_FIGURE-SKATING-ISU-CHINA.JPG

https://www.google.com.sa/url?sa=i&...xMLa9VVF4fagjYO1TCe6JqYQ&ust=1462214144553722 outstanding quality photo from Ice Legends copy as an address and then it will automatically download

http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/large/7376e4c7gw1exsqrgpnn0j21cg20p1at.jpg

http://ochanoma-mimiyori.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_0087.jpg

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...0000230689_RTRMADP_3_FIGURE-SKATING-JAPAN.JPG

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...0000230703_RTRMADP_3_FIGURE-SKATING-JAPAN.JPG

SP
http://amd.c.yimg.jp/amd/20151107-00010000-yjnews-003-1-view.jpg

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ce9Zss6UAAAgouW.jpg:orig

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeuzpTbWAAIHW6W.jpg:orig

http://d1udmfvw0p7cd2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/sp-jack-a-20151223.jpg

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...050430_RTRMADP_3_FIGURE-SKATING-ISU-CHINA.JPG

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CTK0bnpUcAAhBRy.jpg:orig

http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/large/006dsf17jw1exrozpyh3jj318w0u0q69.jpg


Photo Puttin' on the Ritz

http://blog-imgs-84.fc2.com/b/a/r/barcarollefantasie/2769.jpg

Mao looking tough in Rach II http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...821_GM1EA3T1L2V01_RTRMADP_3_FIGURESKATING.JPG

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CfLfsOqUYAA60-Q.jpg:orig

Great closeup photo of Mao laughing https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CghsAdgUsAAZzj8.jpg:orig


Ballade at Ice Legends

http://farm2.staticflickr.com/1470/25996040394_a94713cbe3_o.jpg

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13063146_1135011233187629_1370732692507885864_o.jpg

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13072751_1135011229854296_3772786817505967845_o.jpg

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13087159_1135011223187630_4940376393619471891_o.jpg

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net/t31.0-8/13071962_1135011343187618_6794642730977604599_o.jpg

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...59_1135011356520950_3481569775988668405_o.jpg

Picture of Mao at after dinner party at Ice Legends
http://stat.ameba.jp/user_images/20160423/23/sanomiyoko/24/f6/j/o0480064113627449176.jpg

More Ice Legends
http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cgvep6OUYAAlGqW.jpg:orig

http://scontent-nrt1-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/923963_485880231622859_855411121_n.jpg

http://scontent-nrt1-1.cdninstagram.com/t51.2885-15/e35/12940716_256059878073235_2139922944_n.jpg

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Cgw9ujYW0AAhfkN.jpg:orig

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...=1e8b1ef152fe75b2606b09ff083341da&oe=57769B80

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...=225e7004b85727a5946880b670f466df&oe=57A57C96

http://scontent-nrt1-1.xx.fbcdn.net...=a1e4d7e7884c35f9886ef9c8d836ad19&oe=57BFB3A5

https://scontent.fitm1-1.fna.fbcdn....9948_1135794149776004_20560458265462677_o.jpg

https://scontent.fitm1-1.fna.fbcdn....95_1135794023109350_8161126605293777341_o.jpg

https://scontent.fitm1-1.fna.fbcdn....955_1135794016442684_872261237131255626_o.jpg


https://scontent.fitm1-1.fna.fbcdn....93_1135794099776009_1769595253398829382_o.jpg
One of my favorite comments from Mao was that she was very happy and that she performed very well in the Worlds LP and that she didn't really care about the scores. I and so many others certainly agree about the outstanding quality of her performance, whatever the heavily deflated scores.
 
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gotoschool said:
Here are a lot of high quality photos I found of Mao's programs

Photos Madame Butterfly- powerfully expressive program in the classical style with swift fluidity, transcendent beauty and expansive range of movement and emotions as only Mao can do

http://static.gofugyourself.com/uploads/2016/04/GettyImages-518793854.jpg

http://blog-imgs-86.fc2.com/h/f/k/hfkkj/20151228121908326.jpg

http://ww1.sinaimg.cn/large/7376e4c7gw1exsqrp79a0j214f1ondva.jpg

http://d1udmfvw0p7cd2.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/sp-jack-a-20151111.jpg

http://pds.exblog.jp/pds/1/201604/05/86/e0337786_11290460.jpg

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/0a4bdb82bc25d831860f6a7067008438.jpg

http://d4.yimg.com/sr/imgv1/1/b89cdc5f-8a7c-3545-9bdc-a5fcf88727b5?.jpg

http://lpt.c.yimg.jp/amd/20160409-00000052-dal-000-view.jpg

http://blog-imgs-84.fc2.com/b/a/r/barcarollefantasie/2740.jpg

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...049719_RTRMADP_3_FIGURE-SKATING-ISU-CHINA.JPG

https://www.google.com.sa/url?sa=i&...xMLa9VVF4fagjYO1TCe6JqYQ&ust=1462214144553722 outstanding quality photo from Ice Legends copy as an address and then it will automatically download

http://ww2.sinaimg.cn/large/7376e4c7gw1exsqrgpnn0j21cg20p1at.jpg

http://ochanoma-mimiyori.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/IMG_0087.jpg

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...0000230689_RTRMADP_3_FIGURE-SKATING-JAPAN.JPG

http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...0000230703_RTRMADP_3_FIGURE-SKATING-JAPAN.JPG

SP
http://amd.c.yimg.jp/amd/20151107-00010000-yjnews-003-1-view.jpg

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/Ce9Zss6UAAAgouW.jpg:orig

http://pbs.twimg.com/media/CeuzpTbWAAIHW6W.jpg:orig


Photo Puttin' on the Ritz

http://blog-imgs-84.fc2.com/b/a/r/barcarollefantasie/2769.jpg

Mao looking tough in Rach II http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/R...821_GM1EA3T1L2V01_RTRMADP_3_FIGURESKATING.JPG

Great closeup photo of Mao laughing https://pbs.twimg.com/media/CghsAdgUsAAZzj8.jpg:orig

One of my favorite comments from Mao was that she was very happy and that she performed very well in the Worlds LP and that she didn't really care about the scores. I and so many others certainly agree about the outstanding quality of her performance, whatever the heavily deflated scores.
Click to expand...

I totally agree, her performance was a highlight for me, but her scores and the phantom calls she got along with the crazy deflated pcs scores still makes my blood boil, it's sooo shameless and frustrating to see how they treat a legend skater who has pushed the sport on the technical side and made history time after time, and whose artistry and finese is unmatched in the world, it seems to me like Mao Asada has the whole skating community, viewers, and past skaters beside her, who respect, admire and root for her, except the judges!

That's the conclusion i have reached after seeing this championship, following the comments on skating forum and on twitter and comparing it to the scores!
 
I just stumbled upon this video on youtube documenting Mao's comeback, focusing on her journey from nationals to worlds this past season. I believe it is an episode/segment of an NHK show. It is titled: Mao Asada - the reason for smiling (the reason behind her smile). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AIkiiXVt-tw

I don't understand Japanese, but the video featured footage of Mao working with Lori in January after nationals and it was fascinating. I got a kick out of Lori telling her not to blink and "break the spell" when she turns her body at the beginning of Madame Butterfly. :rofl: There were also bits of Lori being interviewed and Christine Brennan being interviewed at worlds, talking about Mao. Their voices were dubbed over with Japanese translation so I was only able to catch some of it. Nevertheless it's an enjoyable watch.
 
thoakun said:
I never like R&J that much but Mao definitely has a lot of qualities to play Juliet. A lot of ballet dancers still play Juliet in their 30s. But I hope Madame Butterfly can rest now :)
Click to expand...
Definitely, very innocent and childlike (in a good way of course), yet very emotionally deep
 
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For the longest time, I've been wanting Mao to skate to Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21 for the SP :laugh: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=df-eLzao63I
I have the piece on CD, and whenever I hear it I can't help but think of Mao :biggrin:
I know it's a very well known piece, but I can't recall it ever being skated to and it would make for a beautiful program
 
Here is a great new video of Mao's Sochi freeskate with Tarasova commentary and subs in English. The highly biased IOC went to the trouble to delete a poor quality video of this commentary of Mao's performance, even though it sponsored full HD videos for other skaters, probably because with almost 3 million views it was an obvious affront and big controversy to the scoring machinations that were made in Sochi. Mao has excellent flow, rotation, expression posture and intricate movment through both her 3F / 3L and 2A / 3T (the rotation on the backend of this jump is better than any woman I have seen Worlds 2016), yet Mao received a bogus ur call for both these combo backends along with deflated GOE with no jump even reaching +1 GOE and super deflated PCS. Held down for favorites ordained for the podium. In my opinion, it is a lot like what happened at Worlds 2016 only this year Mao has almost 200,000 more views on youtube than the next most watched video in the women's competition because her heart rending and supremely balletic performance of Madame Butterfly moved so many emotions around the globe, yet She received a humiliating 7th place for it, so in a lot of ways the injustice is even worse. Probably the first time in history such a highly cherished performance by a 3 and what would be 4 time World Championship under new fairer scoring for the triple axel has been given such an abysmally unjust placement, even more since none of the other skaters had even won Worlds once. It is a true travesty.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcAwpSH6XEs
 
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gotoschool said:
Here is a great new video of Mao's Sochi freeskate with Tarasova commentary and subs in English. The highly biased IOC went to the trouble to delete a poor quality video of this commentary of Mao's performance, even though it sponsored full HD videos for other skaters, probably because with almost 3 million views it was an obvious affront and big controversy to the scoring machinations that were made in Sochi. In my opinion, it is a lot like what happened at Worlds 2016 only this year Mao is getting far more views than anyone else for her heart rending Madame Butterfly performance and receiving 7th place for it, so in a lot of ways the injustice is even worse. Probably the first time in history such a highly cherished performance by a 3 and almost 4 time World Champion has been given such an abysmally low placement even more since none of the other skaters had even won Worlds once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcAwpSH6XEs
Click to expand...

Wow, thank you so much, was looking for it!!!:thank:
 
gotoschool said:
Here is a great new video of Mao's Sochi freeskate with Tarasova commentary and subs in English. The highly biased IOC went to the trouble to delete a poor quality video of this commentary of Mao's performance, even though it sponsored full HD videos for other skaters, probably because with almost 3 million views it was an obvious affront and big controversy to the scoring machinations that were made in Sochi. Mao has excellent flow, rotation, expression posture and intricate movment through both her 3F / 3L and 2A / 3T (the rotation on the backend of this jump is better than any woman I have seen Worlds 2016), yet Mao received a bogus ur call for both these combo backends along with deflated GOE with no jump even reaching +1 GOE and super deflated PCS. Held down for favorites ordained for the podium. In my opinion, it is a lot like what happened at Worlds 2016 only this year Mao is getting far more views than anyone else for her heart rending Madame Butterfly performance and receiving 7th place for it, so in a lot of ways the injustice is even worse. Probably the first time in history such a highly cherished performance by a 3 and almost 4 time World Champion has been given such an abysmally low placement, even more since none of the other skaters had even won Worlds once.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcAwpSH6XEs
Click to expand...

Thank you so much for finding this! I love how much Tarasova cheers for Mao :)
 
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gotoschool said:
Here is a copy of Mao's magnificent SP performance at Vancouver which I thought was the best short program at Vancouver. It is not 1080 only 720 but it is not announced by the heavily biased Scott Hamilton and Sandra Bezic so I prefer watching it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xFyYsnIY4JE
Click to expand...

Sandra Bezic ''authoritative'' commentary sometimes aka prompt double-footed remarks and other crap :palmf: As annoying as Tara (despite not nearly as nasal timbre).
 
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Ares said:
Sandra Bezic ''authoritative'' commentary sometimes aka prompt double-footed remarks and other crap :palmf: As annoying as Tara (despite not nearly as nasal timbre).
Click to expand...

I actually like Sandra Bezic in a weird way :laugh: I guess I'm the odd man out here
 
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