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Post by marion on Mar 1, 2015 22:36:26 GMT 1
I'm very happy, I still can't come to my senses to say something coherent. Same here so for now I'll just share a few random, quite subjective, I guess, impressions. First of all, theory of probability is definitely not true when it comes to AS . 20 000 tickets on sale and me and Ronja end up sitting right next to each other, what are the odds!?! I think that the show was really special because of the public. You need to know that Poland has been a complete desert when it comes to elite figure skating for the last 8 years... The last time we had opportunity to see champions was in 2007 when Euros were held in Warsaw, there is no coverage of the sport in public tv etc. Yet, the fans have been there, waiting patiently... The fact that the show was held at the famous football stadium helped to attract an even wider audience and more than 19 000 people gathered on Saturday evening. You will not get that atmosphere on the videos, but the crowd was really fantastic! Attentive, appreciative and cheering loudly for every performer. What was really great is that before Sense, only when Stephane appeared at the gate to the ice even before introduction, the wild cheering began We know our Star! To me, it was an extraordinary exchange of energy on a total scale, something that does not happen very often. I think that the stars felt it too, Stephane looked really happy out there, Evgeny was really impressed and in his little speech at the end he promised to come back. The host also mentioned at some point that Stephane said to her he'll visit Poland again. Rockstars who performed for Polish crowd usually do come back eagerly, so we'll see I'm really happy the show was overall such a success, nevermind the freezing cold and blinding lights , and I really hope that this will bring more figure skating to Poland. Beatiful new Krakow Tauron Arena is waiting!
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Post by estephania on Mar 1, 2015 23:56:15 GMT 1
So happy for everyone who have been able to attend the show after waiting for so many years that there will be again a figure skating event!
Dear Marion, thanks a lot (!) for sharing your impressions with us! - Indeed, even my husband who is definitely not a skating fan, when he saw Stéphane and Carolina Kostner once live he sensed their artistry! - So pleased to here that the audience hav been so appreciating the skaters!
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Post by kindredspirit on Mar 2, 2015 0:48:03 GMT 1
So happy for everyone who have been able to attend the show after waiting for so many years that there will be again a figure skating event! Dear Marion, thanks a lot (!) for sharing your impressions with us! - Indeed, even my husband who is definitely not a skating fan, when he saw Stéphane and Carolina Kostner once live he sensed their artistry! - So pleased to here that the audience hav been so appreciating the skaters! Curious. Even my husband is not a skating fan, but when he saw for the first time Stéphane on tv years ago, I remember he was impressed. I recently forced him to see the Golden Skate Awards on tv and when Stéphane appeared I asked "do you remember him?" and his answer was "of course!" I've told you, he's from another world, he can conquer anyone! Thanks girls for your contributions. I've never had the chance to see him live, but thanks to you it's like being there P.S. I do love Evgeni too, I know this is not the right place, but I'm glad I'm not alone here ;-)
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Post by jomeku on Mar 2, 2015 13:41:49 GMT 1
Thank you everyone for all the stories. I am very glad you enjoyed so much! Yes, there is MUCH interest to hear even more !!!
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Post by marion on Mar 3, 2015 0:12:44 GMT 1
I'm still not quite back to the earth, so I guess it's a good time to comment on the programs.
Being a fan of Stephane has proven to me that dreams do come true from time to time. Seeing Nessun dorma live was one of those times. The power and genius of Puccini, Pavarotti and Lambiel coming together for one precious moment in time made me forget about the whole world around and immerse myself in the pure perfection. Incredible experience for which I can't even express how grateful I am...
Concerning the Sense, it's hard for me to find the right words to describe my feelings, but I'll try. I haven't seen the program nor heard the song before. It struck me from the first seconds. The shards of the lyrics were reaching my mind. I was overwhelmed with the atmosphere of the program. I've been fighting depression for quite some time now and it felt like his mesmerizing dance was expressing my sorrow and struggle. I was moved to the core of my bones. Is this what katharsis feels like?
What else can I say?
Merci, Stéphane!
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Post by jomeku on Mar 3, 2015 9:28:03 GMT 1
Thank you, marion, for sharing your experience and for your touching words!
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Post by taipeifollowers on Mar 4, 2015 3:16:41 GMT 1
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Post by elanor on Mar 7, 2015 0:30:46 GMT 1
It is possible to watch the entire show here: sport.tvp.pl/19139632/gala-kings-on-iceI don't know if it's geoblocked, worked for me but was slow. I watched the recorded show yesterday and was pleasantly surprised with pretty good camera and editing, without awful cuts every 5 seconds in both programs of Stephane (after not showing almost any skating for years they did it properly and the commentary was fine, just too much during performance). Although TV can transmit neither the excitement and grandeur of the show nor the beauty of Stephane's skating. Still, I recommend watching especially Sense (00.24.00), it was a very poetic, inspired performance. I will write about the show although marion already said many things I can identify with. I had to come back to reality after the trip, do chores etc. Besides, it's hard to write something and not sound banal and like over the top fan of a skater and not repeat yourself, because how many times you can say how special, beautiful, artistic he is . To describe beauty you need to be a poet like he is.
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Post by taipeifollowers on Mar 7, 2015 12:41:35 GMT 1
Thank you for sharing elanor and everyone!
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Post by elanor on Mar 8, 2015 2:43:54 GMT 1
Now, about the show. I was happy to learn that they are planning to have Kings on Ice show in Warsaw. I don't remember any high level, not local ice rink skating show in Poland. Like marion said Poland has been pretty abandoned on figure skating map, although in the past (quite long time ago) there used to be some good skaters and it was popular on TV in soviet times. I even wondered why Plushenko’s show couldn't have been organized since they toured many Eastern Europe countries. On the other hand, knowing the show organizers, I was skeptical if it really happens (although they seem to have it easier to do it abroad than in Russia, maybe it's the question of local management) . Then, I wasn't even sure if Stephane would be there, they use his name for advertising etc. On the whole, I didn't know what to think about it, but when it was added to Stephane’s schedule it suddenly looked more real. Since I planned to visit Warsaw for some personal business I thought it would be a good opportunity. But it wasn't so easy to combine it, plus good tickets were already sold out and I again had doubts about going. I didn't want to see Stephane’s skating (if he would really be there, I somehow had problem to believe that) in “bad conditions” and a hurry and I'm not a fan of such events in big sports arena, huge crowds like for football match etc, plus not a big fan of Kings on Ice show (too much acrobatics). Still, I thought it might be my only chance to go to show with Stephane, but the most importantly I felt I need to be there when he is skating for the first time in my home country, just to applaud him. When I arrived in Warsaw the idea of the show was still kind of distant to me, as if it wasn't a main thing I was there (to see Stephane, of course). A day before he wasn't yet there. I had 3 hours to the show and decided to go early, because I was never at the National Stadium and didn't know the way well and I hoped I could get a better seat somehow. I got there fast, it's a huge, modern arena, visible from the bank of the river. The loud music was heard outside, like before the match but the huge parking lot was still empty. When I was almost at the gates, Stephane’s music started to play (Sense). I was so surprised I just stood there for a minute, the music was like from a different fairy tale (my own) and the view from there was beautiful, getting dark and lights of the city turning on, kind of uncanny feeling. Then, I looked for the gates and saw they already started to let people in (they opened 2 hours before the show because of big crowds). I rushed, virtually running and in a minute I was inside, heading towards the music and the ice. The first thing I noticed was Stephane’s dark hair, then his dark training clothes and golden blades. It was natural to block everything else out of my sight. First, I thought I was dreaming that. There were only few people still, and no problem or obstacles to come close. A few skaters were still rehearsing, Irina and I think Plushenko. Stephane was doing his usual show rehearsal, skated around to not disturb the others and I was totally focused on admiring his crossovers. He did many jumps, clean and high, 3t/3T, flips, sals, axel, loop?, no quads (it was extremely light pre-show warm up ). Ari said he will do his second number so I went a bit up to see it from a higher place (I was sure it will be Nessun Dorma it was the only program to be skated there). Then, everybody left the ice and Stephane stayed alone. He skated the program the way I liked the most, no jumps, marked spins, only choreography. They put all the lights like for the show. It was amazing to see it in this enormous, still empty and quiet arena, only music and Stephane’s skating. He was very focused, attentive and alone there, so different than the show with interaction of the audience or group rehearsal when they fool around or just work. When he finished a few people started to applaud and it woke me up. Stephane left the ice the last and I knew the rehearsal was over. I saw more people were already streaming into the building. For a moment I wanted to leave as well, because I felt I already got the best and didn’t want to spoil it but I'm glad I stayed because it was a very nice show and Stephane’s performance was wonderful. I didn’t go to look for my seat, but just stood close to TV stations and when the staff told us to go I moved a few meters away, where the view of the ice was pretty good and clang there with some (supposedly disabled) ladies. The show was great. There were some things rightfully criticized like blinding lights (didn’t disturb me but some people complained), cold (even for a skating show it was really cold inside), silly comments of the presenters but it was nothing because of the performers and the audience, the massive energy flowing through the arena and commitment. The audience was fantastic, especially considering most were not figure skating fans (probably Plushenko is the only skater they heard about, only because he has “a name”). But it was obvious they really wanted this particular event, there was hunger to see figure skating and big appreciation of the skaters. It was sincere and I loved it was for all performers, not just Plushy or Marton, there were shouts of delight and excitement for tricks and silence during beautiful skating performances. It was surprise, because I expected rather middle class, big city crowd coming to fashionable, advertised event. Many people came from other towns and places and were all kinds of people, age groups, men, kids. That's also why I enjoyed the show a lot more, usually I'm not that much into acrobatics on the ice, I prefer “pure” skating but it was fun and exciting, I liked they had things to offer for various people and the whole show didn't feel disjointed (it was much longer than on TV, with encores, synchro team, prolonged finale). I didn't like they asked people to stand during Plushy’s second program, because it made it chaotic, obstructing the view, but thanks to that I could come very close to the ice when the skaters did the final round and took pictures in front of the audience and waive to them. The most moving moment was before Stephane’s first program. I thought there will be maybe a small handful of fans who know him and I was prepared to cheer alone from my place. The presenter said something like “I know you were waiting for him” (which was totally true, thanks for that) and the loud cheer began, also from my sector, not only the first rows where I saw the flags and where devoted fans usually are. I had tears in my eyes and was very moved, couldn't even shout. The presenter said he was the first time in Poland and promised to come back. Then he skated Sense, a beautiful poem that was like a trans. Again, 20. 00 people watching it almost in silence is hard to describe. The second part was more “hot’ because people wanted to move and got into the show. It was crazy with old ladies dancing and shouting (old-fashioned, modest type). I liked when skaters fell because people knew it was real and hard and they clapped a lot. There was a solitary obvious Evgeny fan close to me who shouted like crazy for him. The man standing next to me knew Stephane (he could say his name properly ) and talked all way through the program how great his spins were. After his second program some people stood up, honestly, it was kind of natural with the grand performance and so powerful music. It 's a bit pity people couldn't give and throw flowers on the ice from the long side of the rink, but I think the performers felt the enthusiasm anyway. Stephane was very focused first, but later he was relaxed and natural. He is in a very good shape, skated at ease that night, was the master on the ice and the audience appreciated. He seemed to be enjoying, waived to fans in close to the ice section and saw the flag. Everything was perfect. I felt very lucky that I could see him at his best, in his prime performing programs I love. I couldn't wish for more. The only problem is that now I want to go to show again even more than before and I would need to win a lottery to go to Switzerland. The hope stays they might do the show again after such good reception and success. In one article they mention coming back and other cities: www.pap.pl/palio/html.run?_Instance=cms_www.pap.pl&_PageID=1&s=infopakiet&dz=rozmaitosci&idNewsComp=&filename=&idnews=203077&data=&status=biezace&_CheckSum=-1676289449What they say is often written on the water, but I'm very grateful for the show in Warsaw and for bringing Stephane there. Now, Poland is one more country he performed in (if he even remembers that but we will). I guess it is my longest post.
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Post by jomeku on Mar 8, 2015 22:00:15 GMT 1
Thank you very much, elanor, for sharing your experience !!! I'm very glad you could witness Stéphane's rehearsals and enjoy his programs and the whole show! You say the article talks about 'Kings on Ice' intending to come to other cities too? I read Lodz and Gdansk. Is this rather an intention or almost a fact? (I secretly hope that there will be more KOI shows this year also in Russia and other countries - as they were planned one year ago before Evgeni's injury.)
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Post by marion on Mar 8, 2015 23:53:53 GMT 1
Thank you, elanor, for your story! That must have been amazing to be there in the empty stadium during the rehearsal, I'm happy for you! Now I wish I had listened to my mother who suggested we go to Narodowy at 5pm But, to be honest, I wouldn't have recognized Sense and probably continued walking around the arena... Which brings me to the last part of my story I wanted to share with you. The truth is that I was pretty close to not going to KOI at all. Due to my personal problems I completely lost track of Stéphane in 2014. I only watched Nessun dorma once on yt after the show in Verona. I had all the same doubts that elanor listed above. Plus somewhere at the back of my head there was still the dreadful memory of the great disappointment from 2007. Combine that with my pessimistic outlook and you'll get my vision of Stéphane not coming again and me loosing all the money spent on tickets, trains etc. I was hesitating to buy tickets untill there was confirmation from Steph's official schedule, so I didn't hope for any decent seats when I finally decided to go. And then the first amazing thing happened: they must have released some new pool of tickets at that time because I got pretty nice seats opposite the center of the rink at row 13, which later turned out to be quite perfect . I wasn't excited at all. It's stupid, but I felt obliged to go. Why? Because of one short conversation I had with Stéphane at Hotel Groslot in Orléans almost 6 years ago (!) when in the name of all Polish fans I invited him to come to Poland and he was so nice to give us this message the next evening. It would have been impolite not to honor the fulfillment of this wish even if nobody except me and maybe a few girls from Polish Forum remebered it Still, on Friday evening before the show I was drawing MERCI on my flag thinking: "OK, this is a nice closure to an era in my life, people grow older and find joy in new things, this is in fact a Thank you for all the great experiences I had travelling to skating events and meeting wonderful fans of Stéphane. That's it." Stéphane proved me sooo wrong. After the performance of Sense it has all come back to me. Forgive me Ronja for screaming so loud! It's been a week, and I'm still drawing energy from memories of that amazing evening. Back to the show. I have a collegue in Warsaw who has never heard about Stéphane and went to see KOI only because she used to watch a lot of skating as a child, I guess she is representative of the average audience. She was amazed and moved by his skating, she said it was like a modern jazz on ice. Now we are planning to go together to Verona . Is there any news about this year's edition?
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Post by reut on Mar 9, 2015 18:40:00 GMT 1
Thanks for all the impressions, feelings and thoughts. I'm glad that the show ended up to be so good and that although Stephane came that very day and probably was tired he did utmost.
About "shows in other cities" Ari indeed mentioned shows in Russia this spring, but to tell the truth I prefer to see the dates confirmed on Stephane's site first.
As for Verona, there was some promo published on "OperaPop" Facebook a few weeks ago, but then suddenly they deleted it...
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Post by elanor on Mar 10, 2015 1:47:26 GMT 1
You say the article talks about 'Kings on Ice' intending to come to other cities too? I read Lodz and Gdansk. Is this rather an intention or almost a fact? (I secretly hope that there will be more KOI shows this year also in Russia and other countries - as they were planned one year ago before Evgeni's injury.) For now, it looks only like their wishes. Zakarian mentioned Gdansk, Lodz and Wroclaw, that it would be nice to have show there. In another place, was mentioned November but not which year. I wouldn't count much on this, although probably it is not impossible to organise show in these cities with good managment and advertising get decent attendance. Cracow would be a good place, it has the facilities. Maybe very successful event in Warsaw will encourage them to, at least, consider, and come back. The problem with this show is that is centered around Plushenko and his plans and needs and you never know what they are up to, it's very unreliable. But, I will be waiting, even if it takes next 10 years when Plushy already won ten Olympic medals and, hopefully, can still move on the ice. I know nothing about shows in Russia, maybe reut and people from the Russian forum can keep us informed.
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Post by elanor on Mar 10, 2015 2:57:42 GMT 1
Thank you, elanor, for your story! It's stupid, but I felt obliged to go. Why? Because of one short conversation I had with Stéphane at Hotel Groslot in Orléans almost 6 years ago (!) when in the name of all Polish fans I invited him to come to Poland and he was so nice to give us this message the next evening. It would have been impolite not to honor the fulfillment of this wish even if nobody except me and maybe a few girls from Polish Forum remebered it I never saw this message, thank you very much. Wasn't it in the spring 2009 when he was still recovering from injury? The show was not just beautiful, it was an amazing night (glad that not only for me), many things came together.
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