The Shock & Awe Factor: Round up of the Best Programs of All Times

[anya_angie]

Some Plushenko:

05 Grand Prix Final: Godfather

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ0S6NPTPI8

04 Worlds SP: Flamenco

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06WNHljG7mg

04 Grand Prix Final: Nijinsky (can't find a youtube link for this one)

03 Worlds Qualifying:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVS554SM-dA

03 Grand Prix Final: St. Petersburg 300 (perhaps the performance of his life)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVplv_v4B4M

02 Bofrost Cup SP: Adagio (can't find a particular performance of this one either...)

00 CoR SP: Bolero (just watched this recently after a LONG time and think it's one of his most underrated programs, no link for this one either)

Alexander Abt: 2001 European Championships: Exhibition

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=07Tqc5Qm418

Shen & Zhao: 1999 Worlds LP (one of the two skaters to do Jerry Goldsmith a smidgeon of justice!)

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

Ilia Kulik... what can I say, where do I start?! I cannot POSSIBLY put these in a rank, they're all amazing.

SOUNDS OF INSPIRATION, perhaps my favorite of all
Liebestraum
Mortal Kombat
Rhapsody In Blue
Revolutions
Seisousso
Baseball Cap
Rendezvous
Picking Up The Pieces
Devil's Trill
Driven
Rockit
Waltz of the Flowers
Aladdin
Romeo and Juliet (Japan Open version is AWESOME!)
Grieg's Piano Concerto
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker (not the Waltz of the Flowers, this was a different, lesser-known piece!)
Blues For Nerada

Can't possibly post links for all these LOL.

 

[Buttercup]

Here's Yagudin's 2002 LP (Man in the Iron Mask) from Europeans. Not a particularly good version of it. Abt was in second place in the SP, so a win in the LP would have won it for him. Unfortunately the judges were not going to place the 3rd Russian skater over the 1st Russian.

I think Abt was unlucky to skate against some really amazing skaters in his career and to go through so many injuries. He was great at 2002 Europeans and like you said, could have gotten more credit for it from the judges.

Now, just for fun, here he is doing Gasolina in the Red Square Gala (notice how cold he seems to be!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FcLVLNpVvrQ.

 

[Spun Silver]

Spun Silver, Here are two more really good Abt performances for you:

His 2002 Europeans Artsakh SP (I love this one!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qK0yYK4GXaU

His 2002 Europeans LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdgAIamDJgg

I think he should definitely have won gold, but only took the silver.

Oh, beautiful. Thank you!

I was lucky enough to see him live in NJ last year at Miki Ando's show. This what I posted here:

Two by Alexander Abt! I was flabbergasted to see his name in the program.... he was great - he worked the audience like nobody's business, landed all his triples, made people gasp with his fast spins and spectacular flying camels - they were like pinwheels and one in particular was just unbelievably high. He was in our corner when he landed his first jump and did it with such a delightful smile. I think I'm in love! (Along with about 200 other women at this event. At one point he kissed the hand of some lucky lady who had ice seats - my friend whispered, "She'll never wash her hand again!") His numbers were "Everything I do I do it for you" and "Gasoline" ....

It says a lot about this sport that someone like that in the prime of his life is toiling away in obscurity in the depths of NJ (ok, I know it is skating heaven, but still ... ugly freeway-land) instead of "dancing on the stages of Europe." It's a cruel sport. I guess they all are. For the sake of these young people I wish they would go into ballet dancing instead. At least they could perform for 20 years instead of 5.

 

[Jaana]

To me the most wonderful ones are the programmes where the whole entity (skater´s performance, choreography and the music all combined) feels awesome. If the skater´s performance is wonderful, but if even one of the other factors is not as great, the programme will never become a great hit, in my opinion.

To name a few, here are some of those where everything is just wonderful (in no particular order):

Wylie: Carmina Burana
Cohen: Dark Eyes sp
Cohen: Malaguena sp
Shen & Zhao: 2003 lp
Buttle: 2008 WC lp
Lysacek: 2007 US Nationals lp
Toller: Pagliacci
Browning: Antares
Browning: Nyah
Butyrskatya: Otonal lp
Plushenko: Bolero sp
Arakawa: Turandot lp
Torvill & Dean: Bolero fd
Kwan: 1998 lp US Nationals
Curry: 1976 Olympics fs
Kulik: Too Darn Hot

 

[Joesitz (RIP)]

^
Is Kulic's 'Too Darn Hot' on youtube?. It may be the only jazz number I can bear on figure skates. Nothing is exaggerated; his rhythm is perfect; the steps are jazzy; and his Arabian Cartwheel is perfect. What a talent he is!

Joe

 

[russell30]

There are so many, but for Pairs:

Kovarikova/Novotny: LP from 92
Gordeeva/Grinkov: Spanish Medley SP from 94
Sale/Pelletier: Love Story LP from 00 and 02
Schwartz/Muller: Patch Adams LP from 00
Shen/Zhao: Tosca LP from 03 (probably best of all time, skated perfectly)
Savchenko/Szolkowy L'Oisseu Lp from 08 (construction of program so good)

Men:

Jeremy Abbott Waltz Medley Lp from 08 (inspirational)
Petr Barna Pagannini SP from 91 and 92 (a masterclass)
David Liu SP from 98 (very artistic)
Laurent Tobel Pink Panther LP from 97 (pure entertainment)
Stephane Lambiel Flamenco LP from 07 and 08 (magnafique)
Matt Savoie Mission LP from 06 (transitional moves beautiful)
Viktor Petrenko Kaiesler LP from 90, 91 and 92 (classical)
Eric Millot Western Lp from 96 (triple loop-triple loop lovely)
Emanuel Sandhu - anything just a joy to watch

I could go on........

Dance:

Delobel/Schoenfelder Frida FD from 05 (absolutely fantastic)
Drobiasko/Vanagas Spelle la Stente FD from 00 (absolutely fantastic)
Duschesnay/Duschesnay Missing FD from 91 (excellent)
Dubreuil/Lauzon both Somewhere in time and At Last FD's 06 and 07 (absolutely fantastic)
Klimova/Ponomarenko Bach FD from 92 (so so classical and lovely)
Rahkamo/Kokko 20's OD from 95 (that is pure class)

Still the Best Torvill and Dean's Bolero FD from 84.....

Ladies:

Vanessa Gusmeroli (legends of fall) LP from 00 (a lovely constructed program)
Fleur Maxwell SP from 05
Mikkeline Kierkgaard saint saens LP from 00
Katarina Witt Carmen LP from 88 (so much seduction)
Kristi Yamaguchi Malaguena LP from 92 (one of the best ladies of all time)
Yuka Sato Lp from 94 (la baydere)
Laetitia Hubert Piano SP from 98 (brilliance ending with double axel)
Kiira Korpi Phantasia LP from 07 and 08 (so much beauty and class)
Laura Lepisto LP from 08 (WOW!!)
Michelle Kwan (red violin) Lp from 00 (one of the best ladies of all time and best LP for me for Michelle)
Tonya Harding SP from 91 (so much power)
Joannie Rochette metamorphoses SP from 04, LP from 04 and Don Juan LP from 07 and 08 (for me Rochette had best put together LP of the ladies this year)
Sussanna Poykio Munich LP from 07 (WOW!!)
Sussanna Poykio Meyer LP from 02 (beautiful to watch)
Nancy Kerrigan (born on fourth of july) LP from 91 and 92 (so lovely)
Midori Ito LP from 89 (one of the best LP's to win world title - and those jumps)
Shizuka Arakawa Nessun Dorma Lp from 04 (wonderful)
Sarah Meier Patch Adams SP from 08 (beautiful)
Maria Butyskaya tune of the white knights Sp from 02 (lovely)
Tanja Szewscenko both her forrest gump SP from 96 and Evita SP from 98 (again lovely)
Elena Liashenko grieg Lp from 01 (so classical)
Galina Maniachenko schindlers list SP from 01 and 02 (WOW!)
Irina Slutskaya SP from 00 (really nice and best from Irina)
Lu Chen Rachmaninov No:2 LP from 96 (WOW!)
Lenka Kulovana SP from 97 (such a artistic skater and beautiful to watch)
Zussanna Szwed teacher LP from 97 (WOW!)
Olga Markova Harlem Nocturne SP from 95 (WOW!)
Fumie Suguri Ave Maria Sp from 02 (WOW!)

I have to say this had to be my all time fav so far and this is credit to you Angela Nikodinov her SP from 01 (just for you by Giovanni) (Angela BEAUTIFUL!!)

 

[jyshin]

^
Is Kulic's 'Too Darn Hot' on youtube?. It may be the only jazz number I can bear on figure skates. Nothing is exaggerated; his rhythm is perfect; the steps are jazzy; and his Arabian Cartwheel is perfect. What a talent he is!

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

... But ballet music is very precise as to phrasing...
Joe

Giselle Variation
Zakharova
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlqytmdHcB0
Gordeeva
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CfQDYH4xUYs&feature=related

I agree with Joe10000%

 

[jenaj]

This may be the ultimate shock and awe program. Midori Ito--7 triples including a triple-triple and a triple axel. Great artistry, too.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9hupxBUve6Q

 

[sillylionlove]

Wow those are all some great programs. There are even some on there that I totally forgot about!!! So thanks everyone for those links and brining back memories.

My favorite program would have to be Dorothy Hamill's Olympic program in 1976! Now you might be asking why? Well I have no idea what she skated to (i think it was songs from Errol Flynn movies- thanks Wikipedia for that info) and I was only about 4 years old and that's when I fell in love with figure skating and I made my parents take me to Ice Capades for every year she was in it. So to me that's a sign of the best program!!

So....when are we going to do the worst programs of all time??

 

[JewelInTheSun]

Hey..
The best program I've ever seen was "The Mission" from Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy at the Euros 2007.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKsAT8eSDGk

Also, I like "L'oiseau" from this season, but they couldn't skate it without mistakes. It's too bad because I think it's the best choreographed program I've ever seen.

Besides, I like "Romeo & Juliet" from Totmianina/Marinin at the Olympics 2006. They skated so clean and beautifully. I think, they have not the great style and interpretation like Savchenko/Szolkowy but their technique was brilliant!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XHGYNkxEAD4

 

[escaflowne9282]

Wow those are all some great programs. There are even some on there that I totally forgot about!!! So thanks everyone for those links and brining back memoies.

My favorite program would have to be Dorothy Hamill's Olympic program in 1976! Now you might be asking why? Well I have no idea what she skated to (i think it was songs from Errol Flynn movies- thanks Wikipedia for that info)

Captain Blood, Seahawk , and Anna Karenina!

 

[cassieandcheetah]

Captain Blood, Seahawk , and Anna Karenina!

I loved Anissina and Peizirat's romeo and Juliet 98 FD, 98 jive OD, and 2002 flamengo OD. I thought they were masterpieces.

Oh and of course Gordeeva and Grinkov. Every single program they did. Honestly, if you have already seen all of them, you would know what I mean. But I think my particularly favorites were their 1994 olympic programs (boht long and short) and their mendelssohn Fs for the 1998 olympics.

 

[jyshin]

The best program I've ever seen was "The Mission" from Aljona Savchenko and Robin Szolkowy at the Euros 2007.

Thanks for the link. I thoroughly enjoyed it.

 

[jiggs]

Ladies:
Carolina Kostner 'Canon in D' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msLgekXpczw
Michelle Kwan 'Fields of Gold' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-0LxQxcCZk
Carolina Kostner 'Solamente per Carolina' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gWt22LMFHvU

Men:
Daisuke Takahashi 'Cyber Swan' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2eeivMpd2jc
Stéphane Lambiel 'Dralion' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIDVdkalOmo

Pairs:
Salé/Pelletier 'Love Story' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dgQbSz5SVWE
Salé/Pelletier 'Come away with me' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AyPTweGPfhI
Savchenko/Szolkovy 'The Mission' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKsAT8eSDGk

Ice Dance:
Delobel/Schoenfelder 'The Piano' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7jCsn1AMm0
Dubrueil/Lauzon 'At Last' http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z63AX2PAQ1w

 

[Tonichelle]

and their mendelssohn Fs for the 1998 olympics.

I assume you mean 88, seeing as how Sergei died in 95.

 

[chrissy51]

Tara Lipinski, Olympic programs for its shear joy

 

[ManyCairns]

Echoing two that have already been mentioned, Weir's Otonal and Savoie's '06 LP (The Mission??).

And I'll add Mishketunok & Dmietriev's Liebestraum LP. I loved G&G, too, but I felt M&D had the Gold-winning performance at the '94 Olys with their intricate, heartfelt, and squeaky-clean Liebestraum.

 

[Kwanford Wife]

So....when are we going to do the worst programs of all time??

Ha! Not by me... I already get too many "you are not a nice person!" comments..:boohoo:

Not that I don't have a list...grrr...

Michelle Kwan (red violin) Lp from 00 (one of the best ladies of all time and best LP for me for Michelle)

Angela Nikodinov her SP from 01 (just for you by Giovanni) (Angela BEAUTIFUL!!)

Both of these choices show a person of remarkable character, intergity and taste... hats off to you Russell 30 and no, not just because your choices reflect all that I find right and good within the sport of figure skating...:yes:

 

[merrybari]

Evan Lysacek's 2007 US Nationals "Carmen!"

 

[Tonichelle]

Evan's 06 Olympic LP wow'd me more... just because of the comeback...

Carmen was a great program for him, hope he changes his programs up majorly, though, next season! (no more Tosca!)