Thank you, littleely, for the videos, and pia for one more interview with new details
issuu.com/piamerima/docs/m_jacksonTranslation:
I already wanted to be Michael Jackson at the age of seven.
His element is the ice, but since yesterday, Stephane Lambiel has a new scene: as circus director he guides through the "Rock Circus"
Eight years have passed by since Stephane Lambiel had become a world champion in figure skating for the first time, and three years since he retired after the olympic games in Vancouver. He has not been absent ever since, but continues to shine with his breathtaking spins in shows all over the world.
During breakfast he enthusiastically talks about his latest role as circus director, dancer and singer in "Rock Circus" (www.daszelt.ch), which tours around Switzerland since saturday.
Q: At the moment the world figure skating championships are taking place in Canada; your former fellows skate for gold. Are you not tempted?
S: No, it's good as it is. Well, now and then there was a thought about going to the worlds or the olympics in Sotchi next year. But in competitions I have achieved everything, gold at worlds and an olympic medal. After Vancouver I have opened a new page. Now my life are the shows. I continue to practice on the ice every day, I arrange programs for other skaters. Together with my coach Peter Grütter I have made a photo-shooting about the steps, as teaching material. Also once a week I give lessons for kids in my Lausanne club. All of this gives lots of variety. Therefore I can say: I'd like to participate in those competitions, but it would not be in accordance with the Lambiel I have become by now.
Q: Now you're the circus director in "Rock Circus". Had the ice been your arena before?
S: Surely there are analogies. I perform in the middle of a huge audience like before, it actually is the same.
And with the music and costumes in figure skating, some skaters perform something like circus numbers, actually (laughs)...
Q: ...we once could celebrate you in a zebra-like costume...
S: ...it's true. It's a bit of circus actually. But people like this.
Q: How did you get the honor to do "Rock Circus"?
S: I was part of the show "La Revue" in the Valais. Adrian Steiner, the head of "das Zelt" had seen the show and found that I did well. He was looking for a replacement for the former moderator (Christa Rigozzi).
Q: Have you found your dream job with this?
S: It's a demanding one. I sing, dance and have to know a lot of text by heart - in german! In the beginning I did not even unterstand all I said. At the moment everything is crossing my mind even while sleeping. When I wake up in the morning i still have the same theme in my mind I had when I went to bed.
Q: Since last year you are also singing. Did you learn it in a crash course?
S: Last summer I took intensive singing lessons during one week, to find out where I really was.
Q: You gave a sample of it during "Art on Ice".
S: Yes. Before enganging somebody else, Oliver Höner asked me if I wanted to try. We then went in a studio. I was already satisfied with this, I had fun and got a new experience. But he gave me the role.
Q: So, your singing teacher had overlooked your talent?
S: I always liked to sing. I remember when I was seven and had begun to skate, I jumped, danced and sang, I wanted to be Michael Jackson.
Q: To start with you are circus director now. What could come next?
S: One of the comedians in "La Revue" thought that musical could be the right thing for me. I remembered this when Adrian Steiner asked me.
Q: Tell us about the highlights
S: Only this: I'll transform from a circus director to a rocker. I am guiding through the evening, but am part of the act at the same time.
Q: From good and serious to loud and freaky.
S: Yes, exactly.
Q: Which of the two is more alike you?
S: Some of both. I like things to be well organised, but then there are moments also when - pufff - I explode. Christa Rigozzi (his predecessor) managed that there was always a smile on peoples faces. This must be my goal too.
by Monica Schneider