No, the old R&J was mainly choreographed by Natalia Bestemianova and Igor Bobrin. They also taught Hanyu how to present the program, so Hanyu’s artistry increased a lot that year under their guidance. Abe didn’t do much in the choreography and presentation of R&J. You can check Abe’s other works, including the works she did for Daisuke and Mura. All Abe’s works are pretty generic. She is incapable of choreographing such beautiful program like R&J.
Hanyu asked to go to Russia to study with Bestemianova and Bobrin before he went to Orser, but was refused because the Russian Fed considered Hanyu a main rival and did not let B&B take him. So he had to go to Orser. I also think it’s impossible for him to work with B&B at least this season due to Russian Fed. It’s a pity, but that’s just how things work. I do hope he will have chance to work with B&B sometime in the future though.
Well, for this season I can only hope Hanyu succeeds with his new R&J program. It’s also a nice program. I think most of the audience don’t know Hanyu has skated to the old R&J program and they will like the new R&J program. So for the sport’s popularity, the new R&J won’t hurt.
What!? Do you have a source that Russian couple mainly choreographed those programs and that he wanted to go to B&B to coach him?
I’ve read a lot of Japanese articles but as far as I read them, I haven’t seen any articles which say the Russian couple mainly choreographed those programs. (They say Abe mainly choreographed those programs and he went to Russia to brush up the choreography after that. And you see some changes in choreography if you compare his performance in the shows before the competition began to those in competitions.) And I’ve read there were several choices in his mind when he decided to leave Sendai, but I haven’t read that he asked B&B but he was declined. I’m not distrusting you but perhaps there are some misunderstandings or misinterpretations between Russia and Japan
Hanyu admitted after FP he put too much focus on jumps because they were not good or consistent in practice and he was so nervous about them. I couldn't hear what he and Wilson were talking about in K&C, but some people online said Wilson pointed out to Hanyu he had taken away much of choreography of the FP while skating this time. Some Japanese media reported there were a lot of passion in the program in practice , but Hanyu looked tentative in FP, particularly in the beginning, and the passion was gone.
It seems the problem was not choreography, but that he couldn't deliver the good of FP sufficiently this time. The program looked fantastic in practice videos.
Yes, in the practice video, the choreo looked much more impressive:yes:
Well, we should consider that things are always changing. Skaters are always changing physically, technically and mentally, as time goes on. And their circumstance changes too.
Talking about Hanyu, 2011-2012season was a really special season for him (as he himself remarks) because it was the season when the earthquake hit Tohoku. He had a hard time and it seems to have mentally affected him a lot. I suppose many fans thinks Yuzuru is a really passionate skater because of his LP in 2011-2012, but watching his performance before 2011, he had not skated that passionately. And 16 -17 years old man and 18-19 years old man are different in every way.
What I found amazing about his old R&J program is that Abe sublimed his unfocused sorrow and resentment against the earthquake into the passionat expression of Romeo. I think it was a perfect way to package him and really great choice of music for him at that time. But in my humble opinion, the choreography itself (I mean each movement in the program) was not so much impressive.
I think “artistic” is one thing and “emotional” is another. His LP in 2012 Worlds was really heart-touching to me, but I think he can’t do the same thing now because he must have calmer feelings now as time pasts. I think now he needs more maturity and refinement to be more artistic. He had real passion and wildness but he needs to present them to the audience in more refined way.
Well, maybe I wrote in a too dramatic way especially about the earthquake, but I don’t think he can do 2012World’s performance every year if he had trained with Abe for another year.
I think this year’s R&J program is impressive and more refined than the old one. But it seemed to require huge stamina to skate that program perfectly. 2 quads 8 triples (including two 3lutzs and two 3axel-combinations in the second half) and lot of transition…
And what I felt frustrating is his costume!! I really hope him to change it. I guess maybe his team and Johnny didn’t want the program regarded as a copy of his previous R&J program and wanted to make a different impression, but I think it doesn’t fit that choreography. The choreo is rather tangible including some kinda pantomime-like movements (looking upon the balcony for Juliet, for example), so I think the costume which is the same type to the one 2years ago would make that program look much better.
As for Fernandez, I think it’s possible to change his LP to the last year’s one if his new LP doesn’t work well with him. (I’m talking just about possibility. I hope his LP will be great
) It earned large score and it’s not a big damage for him if he wouldn’t get good scores in GPS or Nationals. He will surely be selected as a representative to OG.
Come on, Orser is doing a great job with BOTH Yuzu and Javi as these guys certainly have a shot at a medal in Sochi. Yuzuru has recently said he is happy with keeping his SP as it gives him more time to focus on his LP.
I want to see new programs at the Olympics.
) Because it won't be the same as it was in that special season imo.
