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

[merrybari]

Actually it was love at first sight for me with Evan's Tosca! Toss up between it and Carmen!! There was more difficulty builty in with Tosca so a bit more time would've put the finishing touches on it the way he was able to do with Carmen. (His Olympic skate to that was awesome.) Love the way he lets go when he's on muscle memory - in the zone!! Maybe he'll put the adjustments he had planned for Worlds into the one for the Japan Open and we'll get to see it yet. It could be the best of all!!

 

[Tonichelle]

to me Tosca is just Carmen part 2... and it just doesn't work for me *shrugs*

 

[jenaj]

Not sure if this has been posted, but here it is (Kwan's East of Eden at '98 World Pro):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSUgbmrub2A

Some think this is the greatest skating performance of all time.

 

[dorispulaski]

jenaj, That was very lovely indeed. I didn't remember Michelle ever had her hair that short though.

 

[mycelticblessing]

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

Yes, that was beautiful.. The British Eurosport commentators were in awe after they skated. And the unison which they have is really uncanny.. Almost like G/G'S unison in their 1988 LP.

 

[nippponophile]

Paul Wylie's FP at the 1992 Olympics

Shizuka Arakawa's Turandot at 2006 Olympics

Daisuke Takahashi's Bachelorette Exhibition program, and (of course) Hip Hop Swan Lake SP

Torvill and Dean's Bolero (all time favourite)

Could (and have) watch these programs time and time again.

 

[cassieandcheetah]

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

oops I'm sorry you're correct!

 

[blue dog]

My favourite of the "old" free dances:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jMQq8WYuefU

 

[jyshin]

My favourite of the "old" free dances:

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jMQq8WYuefU

Aren't Moiseeva & Minenkov from the period when Marina Zoueva used to compete as an ice dancer?

 

[elinmand]

Kurt Browning's Summertime. One of the most original programs ever choreographed--and one nobody else could have pulled off.

 

[jyshin]

Love everything about Kurt Browning...
... and... especially...I was shocked and awed... when I saw this!

Kurt Browning=Brick House(from "Fsvids")
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-YfopJI-oY

Still can't get over with it

 

[sillylionlove]

I am surprised that no one mentioned Scott Hamilton!! The programs that he did with SOI were just great and they were really awesome when Kurt was on the tour. It was like they were competiting against each other for the best program!!

 

[Lilli]

I loved Wilson and McCall, especially their freedance from the Calgary Olympics.

 

[dutchherder]

Michelle Kwan's 1996 Worlds. I think the most amazing program by a woman ever:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xChSUP4zaEI

Kurt Browning's Nyah-- perhaps the sexiest thing I've ever seen:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QT3lfjFiydY

and his Singin' in the Rain:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8F5l4_R_38

Virtue and Moir's "Tennessee Waltz"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qlWsI7xZWlQ

Bourne and Kraatz, "Return to Innocence"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GA-dlrZbYEo

Underhill and Martini, "Unchained Melody". Oh, Paul Martini, will you be my boyfriend???

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8JDcZMX5tws

I've always like this one. It's just so quirky and different:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tileKDK4eg

Brian Boitano's "Les Patineurs"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t9HKiNCQs18

Robin Cousins, who should give today's skaters lessons on edging, line, and fluidity of movement:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21pvHxrINtI

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a7sSuPpmcc

Elaine Zayak-- who else has the guts to come back and defend a title after ten years?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RfF41Esjbt4

 

[blue dog]

Aren't Moiseeva & Minenkov from the period when Marina Zoueva used to compete as an ice dancer?

Yes =)

 

[Tonichelle]

I am surprised that no one mentioned Scott Hamilton!! The programs that he did with SOI were just great and they were really awesome when Kurt was on the tour. It was like they were competiting against each other for the best program!!

Well I tend to be shy gushing about Scott as his name normally opens up a can of worms but....

With One More Look At You - especially the performance during his back on the ice special... it never ceases to bring tears to my eyes


another great one is Walk This Way - though Kurt skated a bit of it at the Back On The Ice special and I can't help but wonder if he couldnt do it better (ack, I used to be a die hard scotty fan! when did that change??? LOL)

 

[Mathman]

Since we're on SOI for the moment, I'll nominate Kristi Yamaguchi's Bridge Over Troubled Waters.

 

[Tonichelle]

that was a good one of hers - Madame Butterfly was another (and IIRC, Scott Hamilton's personal favorite)... I Honestly Love You (which she skated for Scott at his return show) is another fantastic performance

Katia Gordeeva's 3 Preludes, Smile, and her program for Sergei

Kurt Browning's Are You Lonesome Tonight - among others already mentioned, Serenade to Sonia , oh and his Red Hat (choreographed by Christopher Dean... and it wasn't watered down )

Ilia Kulik's Baseball Cap (another Dean creation)

 

[Spun Silver]

Here's a memorable performances you may not have seen:
Elaine Zayak, 2nd place 1981 Worlds LP
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdHorxKW-mw

Alexander Fadeev's 1985 Worlds LP an amazing skater often forgotten in North America
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wdI7dVbpMaQ

Wow, these were brilliant. They're both so young and effervescent!

My own most beloved skates that no one has mentioned:

Sasha Cohen in GPF Finale 2003 (Rachmaninov)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gg3gq2NUtHA&feature=related

Shen & Zhao Worlds 2007 (Massenet, Meditation from Thais)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2onmlL194M

Yagudin Olympics 2002 (Man in the Iron Mask)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bEGrXTtgTFA

And Johnny's Otonal which has been posted.

I will be returning to this thread all summer!

 

[Medusa]

KULIK: Liebestraum

FADEEV: A Night on the Bald Mountain

PETRENKO: Bonnie and Clyde

KULIK: Mortal Combat