Meissner Article/Video

[R.D.]

Check it out, much info about her experiences, her upcoming routine for SA, etc. MK has apparently been guiding her as well.
Also changed her FS


http://www.baltimoresun.com/sports/olympics/bal-meissner1023,0,2252516.story

Michelle Kwan, the nine-time U.S. and five-time world champion, calls Meissner "the new face of figure skating" and says the important thing for her right now is to find ways to stay motivated.

"I know Kimmie, we've been staying in touch via e-mail. The main thing for her is to keep working hard. She's constantly trying new things, new programs and she's staying fresh," Kwan says.

Already, Gregory and Meissner are taking chances, changing her long program and choreographer just four weeks ago after the original four-minute routine proved unworkable.

"It wasn't me. It didn't inspire me. It didn't challenge," Meissner says.

That meant dumping renown choreographer David Wilson and "Ever After," a song from the 1998 movie of the same name that starred Drew Barrymore as a real-life Cinderella.

To replace them, Meissner returned to her long-time choreographer, Lori Nichol, who prepared a routine to Luciano Pavarotti's signature piece, "Nessun Dorma," a figure-skating staple used mostly by pairs.

"She won't be in the best shape for the Grand Prixs, but it was worth the change for her," Gregory explains. "The new program will be a winner for her, if it's well-rehearsed."

 

[Mathman]

Thanks for the post, Red Dog. Now I can't wait for Skate America. It will be interesting to see how far along her Nessum Dorme program is.

I wonder if Michelle has really taken Kimmie under her wing, or if these quotes are just generic stuff that Michelle might say about any skater.

 

[HCOSurfer]

I really think the change will benefit her. For some reason I feel like this new music fits her style.

 

[Jaana]

The change was needed as Meissner herself feels now that the new music suits her.

 

[GoldMedalist]

Meissner skating to Nessun Dorma???

That's like a cat trying to lay an egg.

 

[Lumi]

Am I the only one who is so sick of Nessun Dorma?

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

It's a wait and see - not so much for a medal but for the experience of using very defined warhorse music. It worked for Miki in using that other warhorse, Sheherezade.

Kimmie must utilize the swells in Puccini's music to make it effective.

Joe

 

[flying camel]

Am I the only one who is so sick of Nessun Dorma?

Yes, it has been used a lot. But maybe the familiar music is something Kimmie needs. I can't wait to see it. I hope she has gotten better.

 

[demarinis5]

Thanks for the article. Kimmie is skating to 2 pieces of powerful music TFB and Nessum Dorma, good for her. I feel that these two pieces will definitely keep her motivated. Nice quotes from the Kween.

 

[emma]

Wow, interesting news. I can't wait to see these new programs!! Of course, I wish I could see the Wilson one to compare...but I guess that's asking for a bit much.

Lumi - it's funny how some music just bugs a person and other music, well enchants them. I seriously don't think I can stand another outing of Carmen for a while, but I could listen to (and watch programs skated to) Nessun Dorma over, and over and over again... even if I totally dislike the skating, I can truly enjoy the music.

 

[cianni]

Kimmie

Kimmies new program is full of stretch movements,hands over head,twisting forward and around. Jumps are still giving her problems but are improving. She will do well.

 

[flying camel]

Kimmies new program is full of stretch movements,hands over head,twisting forward and around. Jumps are still giving her problems but are improving. She will do well.

Kimmie with STRETCH, I've got to see it!

 

[wildone]

Can't they find new music to use, be just a little original? I know she feels the music but Pavarotti has other great songs. What about Bocelli or Il Divo?

Sorry, I have been going over some old tapes of pro competition and I saw the songs used by different people. I am wondering if its a copyrights issue?

 

[Big Deal]

Did I miss something? Is it alowed to use vocal music for Single skaters?
If not why they are talking about Pavarotti? Because he just died recently?
Not a nice way of self-advertising. Almost discusting...

 

[cassieandcheetah]

Did I miss something? Is it alowed to use vocal music for Single skaters?
If not why they are talking about Pavarotti? Because he just died recently?
Not a nice way of self-advertising. Almost discusting...

I don't see why it' self-advertising or disgusting...maybe she's using it for exhibition or maybe it was just a random comment....

 

[feraina]

Did I miss something? Is it alowed to use vocal music for Single skaters?
If not why they are talking about Pavarotti? Because he just died recently?
Not a nice way of self-advertising. Almost discusting...

Well, just because she's using an instrumental version doesn't mean she can't hear the vocal part in her head as she's skating to the music. That's perfectly reasonable.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Meissner skating to Nessun Dorma???

That's like a cat trying to lay an egg.

Nessun Dorma is a beautiful magical song from the opera Turandot. But has been done to death by skaters who don't understand how to bring out the emotion and grandur of the music. My favorite use was by Shen and Zhao in the 2003 worlds. In case we forgot, Shizuka used it to win her world gold as well as her olympic gold.

oh why to skaters always go back to a overused piece saying the origianl selection "didn't work"

 

[capcomop]

Did I miss something? Is it alowed to use vocal music for Single skaters?
If not why they are talking about Pavarotti? Because he just died recently?
Not a nice way of self-advertising. Almost discusting...

At this point I would say that I feel this is not a great step forward for her. This is an overused, overassociated peice of music that can only bring her unfavorable comparisons unless she has transformed from a straight line technical skater to a artsy, emotional skater.

However I am baffled by above comments. There were no quotes around the statment *to Luciano Pavarotti's signature piece, "Nessun Dorma* to indicate that Meissner EVER said this (or that she is skating to a vocal piece). Even if she did say it, how would it be self-advertising? She didn't say it was HER signature piece! Really if the performer (or compser) being alive is a criteria for music selection, no one should skate to Pucinni's music because he has been dead for like 80 years!
More than likely the author threw that reference in there so that people would know the piece of music. After Pavarotti's death it was first thing that our NPR station played in honor of him. It WAS his signature piece. If I were a dead opera singer (instead of a washed up one) I would be honored if someone wanted to perform to my signature peice. I would have the chance to live on!!!!

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

I would love to put Nessun Dorma to bed along with at least a dozen other regularly used skating tunes.

However, these tunes including ND, are popular with the live skating fans at competitions if they are skating well to them. Hopefully Hollywood will continue to put out hummable dramatic tunes for years to come. (Roti's R&J gets better scores than Prokofiev's. You figure.)

As for Kimmie, this will be an experiment for her to bring down the house. Will she? We'll soon have the answer to that.

Joe

 

[BelleFilleYuna]

Well, I'm not that picky about what skaters choose what music to perform, and don't keep track of it, but this one...I would definitely think of Arakawa's Ina Bauer wathching Kimmie skating.:think: