Pick the music you want your favorite skaters to skate to in the coming season!

[merrywidow]

I'd like to see someone use music from Offenbach's "Tales of Hoffman". (And something other than Barcarolle.)

 

[rtureck]

Did anyone mention Sibelius for Mao?

Valse Triste: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tX92pHpPc-k

This piece has some light airiness to it thought it's not really light and airy by nature. I think she could pull it off.

Excellent idea Mrs. P

The Korngold violin concerto is a great idea, and the Villa-Lobos. (Of course the Kwan fan in me imagines her skating to this mysterious, haunting piece.) I think the Gliere harp concerto is in this vein and would be lovely. Years ago, Berezhnaya-Sikharulidze skated to Gliere's unusual and ravishing concerto for coloratura, in which the soprano sings vocalises rather than words, so I guess it didn't count as a vocal piece.

AFAIK, no skater has chosen Korngold VC, it is a lovely piece. I agree Gliere harp cto is a good idea, in 1999 Lucindah skated to it.

Are you the one who mentioned the Queen of the Night aria for Mao? Lovely idea, really different, though of course as a vocal piece it would have to be for exhibition, but I'd pay to see that!

I can imagine Mao using quick steps (sequence) in some of the phrases of this aria. I think choreograph right it could be a bit comical too. Remember in the movie Armadeus, Mozart's mother -in law was yelling at him, the camera was on her then faded away and brought in the queen of the night?

I also like Dvorak's American suite, full of lovely melodies and color. Angela Nikodinov skated to it yrs ago 1998?

I think Gliere's coloratura soparano piece will be good for a solo lady skater too, maybe Mirai.

BTW, what do you think of Mahler?In 1999 NNN skated to M1 the Titans
In 1995? Katia skated to M5 adagietto in celebration of a life in memory of Sergei, it was very touching memorable interpretation (as a lament ). This year M/V won olys gold with adagietto also memorable but with a love song kind of interpretation. I think there is something very special about slow mvts from Mahler symphonies. I love the andante moderato mvt from M6, and hope some skaters will choose it someday.

 

[Olympia]

AFAIK, no skater has chosen Korngold VC, it is a lovely piece. I agree Gliere harp cto is a good idea, in 1999 Lucindah skated to it.
I can imagine Mao using quick steps (sequence) in some of the phrases of this aria. I think choreograph right it could be a bit comical too. Remember in the movie Armadeus, Mozart's mother -in law was yelling at him, the camera was on her then faded away and brought in the queen of the night?

I also like Dvorak's American suite, full of lovely melodies and color. Angela Nikodinov skated to it yrs ago 1998?

I think Gliere's coloratura soparano piece will be good for a solo lady skater too, maybe Mirai.

BTW, what do you think of Mahler?In 1999 NNN skated to M1 the Titans
In 1995? Katia skated to M5 adagietto in celebration of a life in memory of Sergei, it was very touching memorable interpretation (as a lament ). This year M/V won olys gold with adagietto also memorable but with a love song kind of interpretation. I think there is something very special about slow mvts from Mahler symphonies. I love the andante moderato mvt from M6, and hope some skaters will choose it someday.

I agree with you about Mahler in general and the adagietto from the Fifth Symphony in particular. I think I will remember Katia's skate to that section as long as I live. It was one of the finest moments of artistic expression and depth in skating history. In fact, I was really dubious about V/M skating to it, because I thought that any other use of the piece could only fall short. Fortunately, I was wrong in that assumption. You know what would work beautifully from Mahler for an exhibition (because it's vocal music)--a selection from his "Songs from the Earth" or "Songs of a Wayfarer."

Do you mean the Dvorak American String Quartet? If so, I'd forgotten that Nikodinov skated to that; I'll have to look it up. That quartet, the Opus 96, I think, is one of my favorite pieces of chamber music. So I hope someone else uses it, any movement from it, in the near future. As for the Gliere coloratura concerto, Mirai is a good thought for it, and also (if she improves once more) Caroline Zhang would give it a lovely interpretation--when she cures her jumps.

Something occurred to me the other day: Edvard Grieg's Holberg Suite. The prelude is about 2 1/3 minutes, and it has a lovely rhythm for spins, footwork, and other features. It's merry without being cutesy. Here's a performance of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNc5z2nu4MQ

Wheee! I love this thread. You all have such creative ideas. I hope some skaters (and choreographers!) peek in here.

 

[Mathman]

RTureck. what do you think of the Kalinnikov symphony, especially the second movement? Any potential there?

 

[Olympia]

Ooh, Mathman, thanks for reminding me of this composer! I'm listening to his First Symphony on YouTube right now. And he has a Second Symphony, too! This is why I call that site YouTube University.

 

[silverlake22]

I really want someone to skate to Swanilda's variation from Act 1 in Coppelia because I think it would be hilarious to see someone have a temper tantrum on the ice like she does in the ballet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t-kWSM234c

 

[Layfan]

For Layfan - do you remember this?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCKGA00-3Ek

ETA: This is seven years after he won the OGM - and totally awesome!

Oh wow. Thanks so much Janetfan! I had not seen that. I confess I never watched the world professional championships, but from this and other GS postings I can see I missed many great performances...

Course, having seen this I wonder whether any other skater's version of Appalachian Spring could live up to it

I don't think many men skate with that sort of care and precision these days...

 

[modernaire]

I love this thread btw. Discovering a lot of good music.

Mao:
1. I agree with Breeze that the Chopin Etude op.25 No. 1 would be great for Mao. I know many are wary of Mao doing Chopin again but her Nocturne was one of my all time favorites, so I'd love to see her try this piece.

2. Chopin Waltz Op. 69 No. 2. I like the "fast" version for Mao (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxG-kOTMgaA). I think the "slow" version would work for Yuna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQVngbDTAZ0).

Mirai:
1. Salut D'amour by Edward Elgar. This piece was made for Mirai, I think. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqO7yuh8Wsg)

2. Long Long Ago by Yuriko Nakamura. It's light and dreamy and very glide-y. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PMSIkPKzz4)

Yuna:
1. Wo Ai Nee-Arabesque from Hana and Alice OST. This piece is from a lovely scene from the movie where the main character performs ballet. Very graceful. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDqJQofaV5U)

2. Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla, the strictly piano and violin version. Couldn't find a youtube video that resembles the version I have but Yuna can definitely handle this dramatic piece.

3. The Swan by Saint-Seans. My all time favorite skating performance is The Swan Ex by Oksana Baiul (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bH0CAPzef8) and if anybody can pull off this kind of performance again I think it's Yuna.

 

[Layfan]

I love this thread btw. Discovering a lot of good music.

Mao:
1. I agree with Breeze that the Chopin Etude op.25 No. 1 would be great for Mao. I know many are wary of Mao doing Chopin again but her Nocturne was one of my all time favorites, so I'd love to see her try this piece.

2. Chopin Waltz Op. 69 No. 2. I like the "fast" version for Mao (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxG-kOTMgaA). I think the "slow" version would work for Yuna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQVngbDTAZ0).

Mirai:
1. Salut D'amour by Edward Elgar. This piece was made for Mirai, I think. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UqO7yuh8Wsg)

2. Long Long Ago by Yuriko Nakamura. It's light and dreamy and very glide-y. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8PMSIkPKzz4)

Yuna:
1. Wo Ai Nee-Arabesque from Hana and Alice OST. This piece is from a lovely scene from the movie where the main character performs ballet. Very graceful. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDqJQofaV5U)

2. Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla, the strictly piano and violin version. Couldn't find a youtube video that resembles the version I have but Yuna can definitely handle this dramatic piece.

3. The Swan by Saint-Seans. My all time favorite skating performance is The Swan Ex by Oksana Baiul (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bH0CAPzef8) and if anybody can pull off this kind of performance again I think it's Yuna.

Really? It's funny, I know I said Yuna could probably skate to anything but in the back of my mind I though maybe classical ballet music wouldn't be the best choice for her. If she tried to skate to the Swan or the Nutcracker or something it would drive me absolutely bananas that she doesn't point her feet and has no turnout. I love Yuna but I don't think of her as balletic ...

I really like the music you chose for Mirai! Thanks for that. I think Mao might be better for it ... Mirai needs something more peppy. But Mao is a very romantic skater. I think she'd do great with that gorgeous music.

Okay how about this for Mao or Alissa Czisny? Both very romantic skaters:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwDf2DCX_1A&feature=related

 

[modernaire]

Really? It's funny, I know I said Yuna could probably skate to anything but in the back of my mind I though maybe classical ballet music wouldn't be the best choice for her. If she tried to skate to the Swan or the Nutcracker or something it would drive me absolutely bananas that she doesn't point her feet and has no turnout. I love Yuna but I don't think of her as balletic ...

I really like the music you chose for Mirai! Thanks for that. I think Mao might be better for it ... Mirai needs something more peppy. But Mao is a very romantic skater. I think she'd do great with that gorgeous music.

I agree with her not being the most balletic but I think after seeing her Meditation she could certainly pull it off if she DID pay attention to those nagging details. I know Mao said she'd like to take up ballet again and I think it would certainly benefit Yuna as well.

I think the difference between Mirai and Mao for me is despite the age difference, Mirai sometimes seems more of a mature skater (Don't let that smile fool you) than Mao. I mean in terms of the range of music each skater can skate to, I think Mirai has a wider range and can handle more mature, dramatic music than Mao can. I think in the coming years Mirai should experiment with different styles of music so that she doesn't get stuck in skating to just one style like Mao did when she was younger.

Btw LOVE your pick for Alissa. (Think it would suit her better than Mao, seems more mature)

 

[miki88]

I agree with her not being the most balletic but I think after seeing her Meditation she could certainly pull it off if she DID pay attention to those nagging details. I know Mao said she'd like to take up ballet again and I think it would certainly benefit Yuna as well.

I think the difference between Mirai and Mao for me is despite the age difference, Mirai sometimes seems more of a mature skater (Don't let that smile fool you) than Mao. I mean in terms of the range of music each skater can skate to, I think Mirai has a wider range and can handle more mature, dramatic music than Mao can. I think in the coming years Mirai should experiment with different styles of music so that she doesn't get stuck in skating to just one style like Mao did when she was younger.

Btw LOVE your pick for Alissa. (Think it would suit her better than Mao, seems more mature)

I dunno about that. I didn't think Mirai pulled off Carmen that well either. Her version reminded me of Mao's Carmen when she was 15. A little too joyful. Mao does do softer music better but that doesn't mean it seems less mature because of this. Although I prefer Nocturne more, there was a degree of sophistication in Fantasia and Clair de Lune that showed her maturity. This is also seen in her EX programs.

 

[rtureck]

I love this thread btw. Discovering a lot of good music.

Mao:
1. I agree with Breeze that the Chopin Etude op.25 No. 1 would be great for Mao. I know many are wary of Mao doing Chopin again but her Nocturne was one of my all time favorites, so I'd love to see her try this piece.

2. Chopin Waltz Op. 69 No. 2. I like the "fast" version for Mao (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxG-kOTMgaA). I think the "slow" version would work for Yuna (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQVngbDTAZ0).

Yuna:
1. Wo Ai Nee-Arabesque from Hana and Alice OST. This piece is from a lovely scene from the movie where the main character performs ballet. Very graceful. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HDqJQofaV5U)

2. Oblivion by Astor Piazzolla, the strictly piano and violin version. Couldn't find a youtube video that resembles the version I have but Yuna can definitely handle this dramatic piece.

3. The Swan by Saint-Seans. My all time favorite skating performance is The Swan Ex by Oksana Baiul (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bH0CAPzef8) and if anybody can pull off this kind of performance again I think it's Yuna.

I agree with Chopin for Mao, and at the same time I think some of her fans and many of her detractors are boxing her inside a Chopin corner. (Not saying you are one of them). I think Mao will be wonderful at e.g. Mozart operas. I think she wil be good at e.g. La Campenella, with her light as a feather skating and beautiful extensions. LOL how about them bells!

I have to disagree about Arabesque from Hana and Alice for Yuna. I can even see Johnny Weir skating to this piece. Yeah Mao said she will do ballet again, but that does not mean ballet is for Yuna . IMO Piazo lla is a stretch for Yuna too. The swan I agree, then again if I evern watch someone skating to a swan theme, I think more of Johnny.

About Mirai more mature than Mao. I think superficially one may think so, b/c Mao is skinnier and slimmer etc. But Mao is naturally slim like Kristi. Nagasu is a better spinner, I think it is easier for choreographers to design programs for her. I think given the right choreographer and pieces of music Mao can outshine many skaters including Nagasu.

 

[rtureck]

RTureck. what do you think of the Kalinnikov symphony, especially the second movement? Any potential there?

MM, Kalinnikov Sym 2 definitely has tons of potential. I like first mvt moderato for skating the best. I think it suits a male skater like Dice or Johnny better any current female skaters, Anyway, MM I forgot how you love Kalinnikov, and didn't you said once Kalinnikov was so good that he would kick Mahler's butt? I love both, alas Kalinnikov died too young. This is off topic, but you should give Mahler a try, afterall the guy was born in 7/7/1860, exactly 120 years earlier than MK. He shared MK's birth day!

I agree with you about Mahler in general and the adagietto from the Fifth Symphony in particular. I think I will remember Katia's skate to that section as long as I live. It was one of the finest moments of artistic expression and depth in skating history. In fact, I was really dubious about V/M skating to it, because I thought that any other use of the piece could only fall short. Fortunately, I was wrong in that assumption. You know what would work beautifully from Mahler for an exhibition (because it's vocal music)--a selection from his "Songs from the Earth" or "Songs of a Wayfarer."

I am going off topic, but here is an article by Gilbert Kaplan NHY times http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/19/arts/classical-music-a-dirge-no-it-s-a-love-song.html?pagewanted=1

He talked about adagietto was intended by Mahler as a love song and not a lament. I have Bruno Walter's recording of M5, and he was Mahler's pupil, Walter took under 8 mins for the adagietto mvt. Between Song of theh EArth and Wayfaer, I prefer DLvDE.

Do you mean the Dvorak American String Quartet? If so, I'd forgotten that Nikodinov skated to that

I mean American Suite not the 4tet. Do you have Angela's lp from Good Will Games 1998. She skated to American Suite (less well known than Davorak's Czech Suite). Angela did not use the most melodic part of the American Suite, IIRC her footwork section was from American Suite

Something occurred to me the other day: Edvard Grieg's Holberg Suite. The prelude is about 2 1/3 minutes, and it has a lovely rhythm for spins, footwork, and other features. It's merry without being cutesy. Here's a performance of it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNc5z2nu4MQ

Wheee! I love this thread. You all have such creative ideas. I hope some skaters (and choreographers!) peek in here.

How can I forget about Grieg. Holberg suite PC, and lyric BTW do you like Gottschalk's mu...y of this cd to Tanith and Ben some time ago.

 

[Ituriel]

Meryl Davis & Charlie White

Modern option:
- Just my Imagination and Dreams, The Cranberries


Classical option:
- Ballet from Aida, Verdi
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l3w4I-KElxQ&feature=related


Tessa Virtue & Scott Moir

Modern Option:
- Far Away, Nickelback + Into the Night, Santana & Chad Kroeger

Classical Option
- Vltava, Smetana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tLNY6qrmghE
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cO1mnVf9iKE&feature=related

Anna Cappellini & Luca Lanotte

Modern Option
- La tua vita non passerà, Tiziano Ferro
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0DuDLDCm-o

Classical Option
- La musica notturna delle Strade di Madrid, Boccherini
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w58Gg1T504U

Khokhlova/ Novitski... or Andreev

Modern Option
- New Divide, Linkin Park

Classical Option
- Die Zauberflöte, Mozart
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h018rMnA0pM

Sinead & John Kerr

- Beautiful day, U2

Elena Ilinick & Nikita Katsanalapov (I must learn how to spell it)

- Any piece from 7th and 9th symphony By Beethoven

 

[rtureck]

I dunno about that. I didn't think Mirai pulled off Carmen that well either. Her version reminded me of Mao's Carmen when she was 15. A little too joyful. Mao does do softer music better but that doesn't mean it seems less mature because of this. Although I prefer Nocturne more, there was a degree of sophistication in Fantasia and Clair de Lune that showed her maturity. This is also seen in her EX programs.

Actually at this stage of their career, both skaters are work in progress, but I definitely love what I see. I can't agree that Nagasu is more diverse or mature in her interpretation of music. They are just different.

BTW are you familiar with the movie Calmi Curori Appassionati? I love the theme song compsed by Ryo Yoshimata. I thinkl Shizuka will do a lovely interpreation. And between Mao and Nagasu, I definitely think Mao will interpret this piece with more maturity and sophistication

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xSG3rcS1I2s

 

[modernaire]

I have to disagree about Arabesque from Hana and Alice for Yuna. I can even see Johnny Weir skating to this piece. Yeah Mao said she will do ballet again, but that does not mean ballet is for Yuna . IMO Piazo lla is a stretch for Yuna too. The swan I agree, then again if I evern watch someone skating to a swan theme, I think more of Johnny.

About Mirai more mature than Mao. I think superficially one may think so, b/c Mao is skinnier and slimmer etc. But Mao is naturally slim like Kristi. Nagasu is a better spinner, I think it is easier for choreographers to design programs for her. I think given the right choreographer and pieces of music Mao can outshine many skaters including Nagasu.

I've never considered a male skater for the Arabesque piece, but I do think out of the male skaters Johnny would do it well. I respect your opinion that oblivion may not be for Yuna. Do you have a skater in mind who would fit the piece better? Maybe it's a skater I haven't considered yet.

I wasn't thinking about slimness at all when thinking about maturity. Can't quite explain it but I guess it's just a feeling of mine when I say Mirai has the potential to pull off stronger music. I think Mao, despite being the age that she is, people still want her to skate like she did when she was younger (light, airy, ethereal) and I'm afraid she might have gotten stuck thinking that that's the only genre that she can pull off successfully (and perhaps we did too). Maybe that's why she tried to do Bells which didn't work out as well. Personally I think Mao's very talented, a much better skater than Mirai and I'd love her to experiment the next four years and skate to more dramatic music.

 

[Lilith11]

I've never considered a male skater for the Arabesque piece, but I do think out of the male skaters Johnny would do it well. I respect your opinion that oblivion may not be for Yuna. Do you have a skater in mind who would fit the piece better? Maybe it's a skater I haven't considered yet.

I wasn't thinking about slimness at all when thinking about maturity. Can't quite explain it but I guess it's just a feeling of mine when I say Mirai has the potential to pull off stronger music. I think Mao, despite being the age that she is, people still want her to skate like she did when she was younger (light, airy, ethereal) and I'm afraid she might have gotten stuck thinking that that's the only genre that she can pull off successfully (and perhaps we did too). Maybe that's why she tried to do Bells which didn't work out as well. Personally I think Mao's very talented, a much better skater than Mirai and I'd love her to experiment the next four years and skate to more dramatic music.

The thing is, w/Bells, it wasn't so much the drama as the fact that the music was just heavy and overbearing. It's possible to have dramatic music that's also light; for example, she skated to "Scent of a Woman" in 2009 Worlds and must I even start on how much I love this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9921LChDlBc Absolutely sublime. Elegant, mature, and beautiful, but also preserving all of the characteristics that makes Mao such an amazing skater; great speed, flow, edges, spins, jumps, and style.

 

[Olympia]

The thing is, w/Bells, it wasn't so much the drama as the fact that the music was just heavy and overbearing. It's possible to have dramatic music that's also light; for example, she skated to "Scent of a Woman" in 2009 Worlds and must I even start on how much I love this: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9921LChDlBc Absolutely sublime. Elegant, mature, and beautiful, but also preserving all of the characteristics that makes Mao such an amazing skater; great speed, flow, edges, spins, jumps, and style.

Yes, yes, yes! Music can be dramatic without being heavy, and that orchestration of "Bells" was downright oppressive. I just went back to your link and rewatched Mao's splendid program to "Scent of a Woman." She is such a great little actress on the ice, as well as being graceful and subtle--and what footwork! I love and admire YuNa as much as anyone else, but no one gets deep inside the music like Mao. Hope Mao finds music and choreography this year that bring out her sparkle.

Rtureck, I'll hunt up the American Suite. I thought I knew Dvorak pretty well, but I can't call up that music in my mind. (I do love the Czech Suite you also mentioned! Let's put that in the mix also for some other skater.) Gottschalk is a great idea! I especially love A Night in the Tropics, both the dramatic first movement and the infectiously rhythmic second movement. Good for Mathman if he sent it to Tanith and Ben. Definitely it's a piece for a couple, not a single skater--but what a piece! Here's a rendition:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IJs3gO6BX9A&feature=related

 

[treeloving]

How about Nightwish's moondance for Miki.

I really hope one of the pair to use Yanni' One Man Dream as their short.

 

[Tinymavy15]

Jeremey Abbott has to skate to "Cool"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MGy8mWN4O9M (not the best version out there)

And for Dai,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=422-yb8TXj8