Post by elanor on Mar 1, 2016 14:33:47 GMT 1
Thank you, reut. I hope you feel better and managed to get some pleasure out of it anyway.
I will start from my general impressions and about Stephane's programs later.
The show was a huge enterprise, better prepared than last year (early enough info mattered too) but less successfull for various reasons: unfavorable weather conditions (many people complained about the cold and wind was blowing in some places), less and not so enthusiastic crowd that was more than a bit frozen, the numbers they used, the music, Plushenko not feeling well etc. It is a pity because from what I heard many people, especially young and kids really enjoyed the show. I sat next to a group of junior high school looking boys who were very well behaved and clearly enjoyed, particularly more dynamic numbers.
It was visible the organisers (I guess the Polish one who were co-organizing) put more effort by engaging local skaters, bringing Anna Rechnio and some local celebs (Rozycki), adding group numbers, having live music and music artists, the whole segment to Chopin.
I liked there was less acrobats and comic stunts and more skating and professional skaters (no cars, thanks god). The combination of skating, skating acrobats (pairs with impressive lifts and tricks the audience always likes), and good entairtainment with the use of young performers, light effects and modern energetic rhythms was pretty well balanced and suitable. Obviously , this is not a show like Art on Ice or Japanese shows so I had realistic expectations when it comes to skating. They had not very high level skaters and still more high level professionals than last year with Joubert, Sotnikova, Verner, or even Righini who is quite good. I wanted to see Amodio but he wasn't there instead they added Balde. They also had Russian pairs, not very high level but nice to see, with thought out fiting programs.
The first part was more quiet one with many lyrical numbers and Plushenko performing last with Marton and piano a number to Chopin. This number went well because Marton, like him or not, added dynamic playing and the audience enjoyed. Plush was clearly not in shape, he couldn't jump, but did spins and footwark and his best to perform. He ignores the music, performs himself but brings high level of energy, presence and charisma and this matters in such shows, the audience loves it. It was surprising to not see him skate the second number, he looked a bit pissed he could not jump, I don't know, he must really not felt good, such a pity, still he came to the ice for the finale, skated a bit and thanked the audience. He got big ovation.
I enoyed the Polish pair, they are decent technically and performed nice to a romantic song that filled the arena. I experienced how important it is to have the right music for the arena and the skaters, you know from the beginning if it works or not. Righini's music was too big and overwhelming for him, he might be better to do some Latin, hot number, he's a pleasent skater to watch not lacking in skills or audience connection. I really loved Tomas verner. Last time he had a comic number so I coudn't really appreciate his great skating. This time skated a lyrical song, program was good, he played with the audience and was convincing in performance. He has superb skating skills, the best skater in the show after Stephane and very well balanced, good performer, they should give him the second number to skate.
The second part of the show started more dynamic and it seemed it will contiune this way which was good because the audience got more energized, started clapping and singing (singing to Stephane's song). Brian Joubert was a great addition to the show, he's very energetic, has his style and personality and visibly likes peforming for the audience and gets well deserved applause back. He brought his classic Rise that was perfect in the arena, he had some good jumps and fall but who cares, I enoyed him very much and was glad to see him. It's a shame he didn't get to skate two numbers.
The audience liked very much Balde who did very fast, energetic mixture of Michael Jackson's songs. This too was good fit for the show and together with Stephane's lyrical, beautiful, haunting piece very nice tribute. Michael Jackson's music sounds great in the stadium, it has this unique presence, a universal sense of community and the right rhythm. It's close to me because like Steph I used to dance to it as a kid and it was magic. Music that, I'm sure, will never get old like the Beatles.
Then, there was Chopin part with Wlodek Pawlik playing. It was a very good idea to have some live music but I don't think it was the best place for this one. Pawlik is a famous pianist, plays jazz arrangaments of Chopin (which you may like or not) but it is not music particulary good for a huge sports arena. It is chamber music for small venue and maybe more sophisticated, niche audience with taste for such particular genre. He played in my town at festival, small hall, it was very succesful, different atmosphere. I felt it would have been better to have pure classical music that sounds better in the stadium and is more complementary to skating as a pretty background. Also, they could have utilised the pianist better, let him interact more with the skaters and the audience, give him at least one solo or more. He was somehow lost in the background. Here is how it can look in different setting - www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_siRDizWtE
Anna Rechnio skated to Chopin, it was good to have her, but it showed she hasn't been skating and performing much lately. Still nice, nostalgic touch. Adelina Sotnikova also had solo, it looked pretty but was rather banal. It was interesting to see her, she's a good skater, has some expression, good spins, jumps but made very generic impression on me, she doesn't have personality of Irina Slutskaya or special qualities of other performers. There was a group number to Chopin prepared, it seems, by some local skaters, it was pleasent to watch, not special. I think it would have been better to have the Chopin tribute in the first part of the show with Plushenko ending it with his number, would have made for a better whole. As it was, the second part started energetic and then somewhat lost the tempo and energy. There was disconnect between this and the finale, especially with no Plushenko skating, it ended a bit abrupt. The second part was long, well over one hour, I appreciated they tried to bring a variety of different performers so it wasn't boring but did drag a bit, especially in these conditions could have been better to keep it shorter.
The finale was the classic one for Kings on Ice and the audience likes it. Stephane did spins in pair with Adelina, very nice. Then, I had to leave to run for the metro train. Despite all these critical remarks and negative points from what I managed to hear many people enjoyed the show, they do like watching skating not just acrobats which is very encouaging and heart warming. The skaters had good reception and welcome.
It seems the arena is the major problem for the show. It is very impressive and many people come just to see it, take pictures etc, but it has many drawbacks. The tickets are not cheap for an average person to go with family or friends so it's not easy to fill such a big venue. Then, you have people spread in cheaper upper sections and the impression of performance energy getting thin as well, as reut described. It feels overwhelming, I don't know how it is for the performers. I don't know if the organisers would take the show to other, more suitable arena (Torwar would be better), since the sponsors and organisation are connected with the National Stadium. We will see what happens next year with it. Still, it was great, unforgettable experience for me and I'm many times grateful to everybody for having it. Hopefully, not the last time. I feel I got spoilt and used to watching Stephane year after year and not have it again would be very sad for me personally with other shows being so far and costly.
I will start from my general impressions and about Stephane's programs later.
The show was a huge enterprise, better prepared than last year (early enough info mattered too) but less successfull for various reasons: unfavorable weather conditions (many people complained about the cold and wind was blowing in some places), less and not so enthusiastic crowd that was more than a bit frozen, the numbers they used, the music, Plushenko not feeling well etc. It is a pity because from what I heard many people, especially young and kids really enjoyed the show. I sat next to a group of junior high school looking boys who were very well behaved and clearly enjoyed, particularly more dynamic numbers.
It was visible the organisers (I guess the Polish one who were co-organizing) put more effort by engaging local skaters, bringing Anna Rechnio and some local celebs (Rozycki), adding group numbers, having live music and music artists, the whole segment to Chopin.
I liked there was less acrobats and comic stunts and more skating and professional skaters (no cars, thanks god). The combination of skating, skating acrobats (pairs with impressive lifts and tricks the audience always likes), and good entairtainment with the use of young performers, light effects and modern energetic rhythms was pretty well balanced and suitable. Obviously , this is not a show like Art on Ice or Japanese shows so I had realistic expectations when it comes to skating. They had not very high level skaters and still more high level professionals than last year with Joubert, Sotnikova, Verner, or even Righini who is quite good. I wanted to see Amodio but he wasn't there instead they added Balde. They also had Russian pairs, not very high level but nice to see, with thought out fiting programs.
The first part was more quiet one with many lyrical numbers and Plushenko performing last with Marton and piano a number to Chopin. This number went well because Marton, like him or not, added dynamic playing and the audience enjoyed. Plush was clearly not in shape, he couldn't jump, but did spins and footwark and his best to perform. He ignores the music, performs himself but brings high level of energy, presence and charisma and this matters in such shows, the audience loves it. It was surprising to not see him skate the second number, he looked a bit pissed he could not jump, I don't know, he must really not felt good, such a pity, still he came to the ice for the finale, skated a bit and thanked the audience. He got big ovation.
I enoyed the Polish pair, they are decent technically and performed nice to a romantic song that filled the arena. I experienced how important it is to have the right music for the arena and the skaters, you know from the beginning if it works or not. Righini's music was too big and overwhelming for him, he might be better to do some Latin, hot number, he's a pleasent skater to watch not lacking in skills or audience connection. I really loved Tomas verner. Last time he had a comic number so I coudn't really appreciate his great skating. This time skated a lyrical song, program was good, he played with the audience and was convincing in performance. He has superb skating skills, the best skater in the show after Stephane and very well balanced, good performer, they should give him the second number to skate.
The second part of the show started more dynamic and it seemed it will contiune this way which was good because the audience got more energized, started clapping and singing (singing to Stephane's song). Brian Joubert was a great addition to the show, he's very energetic, has his style and personality and visibly likes peforming for the audience and gets well deserved applause back. He brought his classic Rise that was perfect in the arena, he had some good jumps and fall but who cares, I enoyed him very much and was glad to see him. It's a shame he didn't get to skate two numbers.
The audience liked very much Balde who did very fast, energetic mixture of Michael Jackson's songs. This too was good fit for the show and together with Stephane's lyrical, beautiful, haunting piece very nice tribute. Michael Jackson's music sounds great in the stadium, it has this unique presence, a universal sense of community and the right rhythm. It's close to me because like Steph I used to dance to it as a kid and it was magic. Music that, I'm sure, will never get old like the Beatles.
Then, there was Chopin part with Wlodek Pawlik playing. It was a very good idea to have some live music but I don't think it was the best place for this one. Pawlik is a famous pianist, plays jazz arrangaments of Chopin (which you may like or not) but it is not music particulary good for a huge sports arena. It is chamber music for small venue and maybe more sophisticated, niche audience with taste for such particular genre. He played in my town at festival, small hall, it was very succesful, different atmosphere. I felt it would have been better to have pure classical music that sounds better in the stadium and is more complementary to skating as a pretty background. Also, they could have utilised the pianist better, let him interact more with the skaters and the audience, give him at least one solo or more. He was somehow lost in the background. Here is how it can look in different setting - www.youtube.com/watch?v=A_siRDizWtE
Anna Rechnio skated to Chopin, it was good to have her, but it showed she hasn't been skating and performing much lately. Still nice, nostalgic touch. Adelina Sotnikova also had solo, it looked pretty but was rather banal. It was interesting to see her, she's a good skater, has some expression, good spins, jumps but made very generic impression on me, she doesn't have personality of Irina Slutskaya or special qualities of other performers. There was a group number to Chopin prepared, it seems, by some local skaters, it was pleasent to watch, not special. I think it would have been better to have the Chopin tribute in the first part of the show with Plushenko ending it with his number, would have made for a better whole. As it was, the second part started energetic and then somewhat lost the tempo and energy. There was disconnect between this and the finale, especially with no Plushenko skating, it ended a bit abrupt. The second part was long, well over one hour, I appreciated they tried to bring a variety of different performers so it wasn't boring but did drag a bit, especially in these conditions could have been better to keep it shorter.
The finale was the classic one for Kings on Ice and the audience likes it. Stephane did spins in pair with Adelina, very nice. Then, I had to leave to run for the metro train. Despite all these critical remarks and negative points from what I managed to hear many people enjoyed the show, they do like watching skating not just acrobats which is very encouaging and heart warming. The skaters had good reception and welcome.
It seems the arena is the major problem for the show. It is very impressive and many people come just to see it, take pictures etc, but it has many drawbacks. The tickets are not cheap for an average person to go with family or friends so it's not easy to fill such a big venue. Then, you have people spread in cheaper upper sections and the impression of performance energy getting thin as well, as reut described. It feels overwhelming, I don't know how it is for the performers. I don't know if the organisers would take the show to other, more suitable arena (Torwar would be better), since the sponsors and organisation are connected with the National Stadium. We will see what happens next year with it. Still, it was great, unforgettable experience for me and I'm many times grateful to everybody for having it. Hopefully, not the last time. I feel I got spoilt and used to watching Stephane year after year and not have it again would be very sad for me personally with other shows being so far and costly.