Skating to Ave Maria

[Vash01]

There are so many versions of Aver Maria. I like the Schubert version, but skaters have used various versions- some vocal. It is a wonderful music for skating, and it has been overused because it is so beautiful and emotional. To me, it never gets old.

Some of my favorite programs to Ave Maria are:

The Protopopovs- Pro competition; somewhere in the mid-1980's.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O468t8Ddit4

Annenko & Sretensi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49w_G_cPb2k&feature=related

Totmianina-Marinin: 2005 worlds (the link below was from Euros same year- after they overcame their disastrous fall earlier in the season)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AOqMJcR1uLI

Shishkova-Naumov had a beautiful skate to this at the 1996 competition (not world/ISU) in Russia; it was also their worlds 1996 SP, but not as good.

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

Krylova-Ovssianikov had a great pro routine to this, and I saw it live.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwKLb_o693M

Oksana Baiul skated to this many times, as an exhibition (13 through 96) and they all were very good. I particularly liked the one at Sergei Grinkov's Celebration of a Life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5qKTKHOI0w

Jeffrey Buttle skated to a vocal, for a Christmas celebration, and it was beautiful.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lpGB35cq-Os

Johnny Weir's 2008 SA exhibition was beautiful too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2G_E3cwRZ2o

Not at the top of my list, but OK:

Fumie Suguri had a very good skate to this at the 2002 Oly SP

Sarah Hughes skated to the same music for her SP in 2002. I liked Fumie's better.

Rudy Galindo- exhibition. I am not familiar with this vocal version, and I have liked other programs by Rudy better.

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

Belbin-Agosto: 2010 FD at US nationals

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4nL39Jyo6J8

 

[genki]

I really like this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqrhRBEoY4Q

 

[chloepoco]

I really like this one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqrhRBEoY4Q

This is really beautiful!

 

[Vash01]

I had forgotten Shizuka's. Thanks for the link, Genki!

Here is Carolina Kostner's exhibition. I don't care for the costume. The 'wings' really get in the way. I even found Shizuka's costume a bit distracting but the skating was beautiful.


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


Caro skates so fast, it's unbelievable. When I saw her skate live in a competition, she looked like twice as fast as everyone else.

 

[gmyers]

Caitlin Yankowskas/ John Coughlin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv0W0EXxrPI

 

[jcoates]

Peggy Fleming's signature exhibition during her amateur days was her version of Ave Maria. Sadly, there are no vids of it online in its entirety at the moment. There is however a later one from her 1997 tribute to her late coach Carlo Fassi. Some background for those who don't know her history: Despite her glamorous image now, Peggy's family was working class blue collar and never had much money. They frequently moved around so that her father could find work as a printing press operator. Eventually they left California so that Peggy could go train in Colorado Springs with Carlo Fassi. Her dad even drove the Zamboni at her rink to help pay for lessons. Following her first world championship, Peggy was on tour across the US and and her dad drove out to Cleveland to see her skate. His favorite program of hers was Ave Maria and she skated it for him. Sadly he would die of a heart attack while making his way back home. Peggy and her mother were in Russia by that time for the next leg of the tour. They were told about his passing on the plane, half a world away. Peggy has stated many times how painful that experience was for them. Unfortunately, Carlo (who served as a father figure for Peggy over the years) also died suddenly of a heart attack many decades later at the 1997 Worlds. She and his legion of skating champions skated in tribute to him later that year and Peggy once again skated her Ave Maria. This is the video of that event.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EPKxL8w1R5I

 

[Morning Glory]

I like Yukina Ota's Ave Maria.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOU-ybON6RM

 

[Binthere]

The Protopopovs at their peak will always be my definitive favorite Ave Maria. The one by which all others should be measured by.

 

[Vash01]

I like Yukina Ota's Ave Maria.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tOU-ybON6RM

Yukina Ota was one of my most favorite skaters. It's a pity that she never even made the Japanese world team at the senior level. She is one of the naturally artistic skaters that are such a joy to watch.

 

[genki]

I had forgotten Shizuka's. Thanks for the link, Genk

Your welcome. I am glad many people appreciate Shizuka's verson.
She is like fine wine, the older she gets, the better she becomes.

 

[silverpond]

Peggy Fleming skated a beautiful exhibition to "Ave Maria" following her first World championship win in 1966. The occasion was bittersweet, as Peggy's father passed away from a massive heart attack just days after she won the World title. I'm sure Peggy's mind and heart were focused on her Dad during that performance.

 

[DianaSelene]

Totmianina Marinin's Ave Maria was one of their best routines. It was really magical.

 

[Vash01]

Totmianina Marinin's Ave Maria was one of their best routines. It was really magical.

The first time they skated it after their accident, it was an exhibition, just to get used to skating in front an audience again. Even then it was beautiful.

 

[PolymerBob]

Here is Caroline Zhang's performance, which sealed the American Victory at the 2009 World Team Trophy.

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

 

[stevlin]

Ave Maria

Jeffrey Buttle's "Ave Maria" is breathtaking, so different than others in that his has drums in the music and he skates to every beat of it. He is so graceful.