Opera on Ice - Arena di Verona, Italy - Oct. 1, 2011 & Sept. 22, 2012

[jiggs]

Just found out the film is being shown here in Australia this weekend at Palace Cinemas. Might have to go and see it.

Cool, I think it's definetely worth it! I haven't seen it in theatre but on TV and I thought they did quite a good job capturing the magic that was there. Of course, it was much better live (I am lucky enough to see it again live on Saturday :-)), but the film was really good too. It has been shown in quite a few countries since May, you can see it on the buttom of the site below:
http://www.nexodigital.it/2/id_220/Opera-On-Ice.asp

Also, this is a really nice backstage clip of the show, including insights in how they built the rink in the old arena, how the stage was set up, practices for the show and other snapshots: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bsv5EtNv760

Some news:
Steph & Caro at the press conference yesterday: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wsmSq...ure=youtu.be&a

Apparently the official press conference is today, followed by a public training. Also, this year is the first time that costumes were designed exclusively for the show by a local company.

[pingu]

A couple of drawings of the costumes:
http://www.operaonice.eu/images/stor...era-on-ice.jpg
http://www.operaonice.eu/images/stor...and-juliet.jpg

[jiggs]

Some pics from yesterday's practice:

Caro: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...13697665347647

Anna, Caro, Stephane and Luca: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...13697665347647

Shizuka: http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...13697665347647

Plushy: https://twitter.com/chicconeri/statu...046592/photo/1

[Aussie Willy]

Thanks Jiggs - I am planning on going to see it on Sunday. Someone saw it today and thought it was fantastic.

The disappointing thing it is only on limited release and the times are not necessarily the best for people (11.30am).

[jiggs]

Thanks Jiggs - I am planning on going to see it on Sunday. Someone saw it today and thought it was fantastic.

Cool, I hope you'll enjoy it!

Shizuka posted this pic from rehearsals on twitter, the location is just so incredibly amazing!! https://twitter.com/tiramisu11/statu.../photo/1/large

[lily]

Stéphane at the fan meeting
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Absolu...5347647?ref=ts

Some rehearsal photos
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/6610/...c2e8a190_L.jpg
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/6513/...29734094_L.jpg
http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/6610/...8a80d128_L.jpg

news clips
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uQVWs...layer_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4KcOn18YFYQ

Carolina and Stéphane. Their Romeo and Juliet costumes. Stéphane tries some ballet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yg5Y-...layer_embedded

[Aussie Willy]

Went and saw the film today. Really good. Love Stephane's performances. C&L were also really good.

[jiggs]

Glad you enjoyed it!

Last night's show was great too - I will try to write down some impressions later on when I have more time. Found some videos from last night:

Carolina & Stephane duet to "Romeo & Juliet": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqEC6OLkmJ4

Stephane to "La Traviata": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9JKo0nPUWs

Hope there will be more soon. I'd love to see some HQ photos too, the costumes were made especially for this evening and were really beautiful, especially the ladies' dresses!

[Laney]

Caros and Stephanes duet to Romeo and Juliet is to die for!
Thatnks for posting it, jiggs! I also hope we´ll get some more viedos!

[lala]

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4594244&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5948301&type=3

[jiggs]

Some really nice photos from the last rehearsal on Stephane's website:

http://www.stephanelambiel.com/gallery/operaonice2012/

[pani]

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...4594244&type=3

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...5948301&type=3

Thanks! Great photos

[lala]

Plushy's La donna e mobile
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsGvn...layer_embedded
and Habanera
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=KeDVCJLs5sM

[alilou]

I'd love to see this film, and I've just found out there's a new Palace Cinema opening in Canberra and will be showing it. But not until late 2012 and I'll probably be gone by then

[misskarne]

I'd love to see this film, and I've just found out there's a new Palace Cinema opening in Canberra and will be showing it. But not until late 2012 and I'll probably be gone by then

Really?! Where? When?!

[alilou]

It's going to be in some new development called NewActon Nishi or something like that, but all I could find out is the cinema will open late 2012. I just googled palace Cinemas Canberra.

[twinsissv]

Bravo! Brava! What a magnificent idea! Some of the most beautiful music imaginable finally presented as operatic roles on ice! I love it!

[jiggs]

Finally have time to write down some impressions from the show.

First of all, "Opera on Ice" sets itself apart from all other ice shows just because it takes place in the "Arena di Verona". It is such a great location with so much history and cultural heritage ... this combined with live orchestra, opera singers, a choir and some of the best skaters in the world guarantee a magical night. Big thumbs up to the organizers for having the guts to carry out a production of this dimension.

What I really didn't like about the show was that there was a lot of talking involved. There seemed to be more talking than skating honestly. I know that this was done for TV cuts and everything, but it was really annoying and far too much. The two commentators seemed as if they were in a talk show, an Italian one at that, so you can imagine what it was like I can hardly unterstant Italian so it was even more boring. It definitely took away some magic from the show and kind of always interrupted the flow of things. Funny sidenote: they interviewed Speedy at one point of the show and he looked and sounded SO DRUNK lol He consistently stumbled over words and talked very slowly. We all looked at each other and were like: "He has got to be drunk". I dunno what was really up with him but it was

This year was the first time that costumes were made especially for the show. I was pleasently surprised by them - especially the girls' costumes were lovely and they suited the show very well. The only costumes I could've done without were the men's pharao "skirts" for the finale to "Aida" (but at least we girls got some extra eyecandy haha).

The choreography for the opening and final was done by Salome Brunner and I thought she did a nice job. They included some local skating kids from the surrounding areas in those numbers and they were super cute. Apparently the organizers of the show also aim to get more younger people into figure skating and opera, hence the kids.

The highlight of the show for me was Carolina & Stéphane's duet to "Romeo & Juliet". I thought they did such a good job and were lovely to watch. Carolina couldn't seem to stop smiling and obviously enjoyed the experience a lot. Stéphane was very focused on her, he looked as if he didn't want to take his eyes off her. They said before the show that they have been close friends for such a long time and they hope that the audience in the arena will sense this connection. I certainly did and thought their duet was charming. Here are two pretty good fancam versions:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBFuSRqA5SU
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqEC6OLkmJ4

Second highlight for me was Italy's synchronized team "Hot Shivers" skating to Nabucco's "Va' pensiero". I am not a fan of synchronized skating and was always very bored when I saw teams perform at previous galas (sorry!) but this number was very beautiful. Part of the reason might be that I find "Va' pensiero" to be one of the most beautiful opera songs and it was performed excellently live by the orchestra and the choir. Also, in contrast to the other skaters (Carolina in particular), I found that the team actually benefited from a smaller rink. It made their patterns much more impressive and they suited the music very well. Found a video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k3I0oak0eAE

Stéphane skated a solo program to music from "La Traviata" and a shorter version to "Wilhelm Tell" (pretty much the part of his final step sequence). He also had and appearance in the beginning of Carolina's Trovatore. Everything he does is done so well - it's as if whatever music you give him, he will make this music HIS music and interpret it 100%. Gotta love him and I hope he keeps skating at shows for much longer. Here are fancam vids of his performances:
Wilhelm Tell: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dYPcBqAJdhU
La Traviata: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9JKo0nPUWs
Interview (he speaks Italian well!): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR_Neq3g50c

Carolina's solo program was skated to music of "Trovatore". I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the other programs - I think she is much better with softer and slower music and that her personality and skating is too subtle, gentle and smooth for Trovatore. Maybe it was also the fact that the rink was too small - her movements are so big, it looked a little bit like she was trying to skate "smaller" to be able to fit everything into that rink. She did two beautiful 2axels though and also skated an encore.

Evgeni was the star of the night and I had the feeling the organizers wanted it to be this way. He really rocked the house and whether you like his skating or not, he really knows how to perform. Jumps and presentation were spot on and he looked so confident. He had a lot of fans in the arena and seemed to be very grateful to be part of the show.
Habanera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeDVCJLs5sM
La Donne e mobile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsGvnogvmRk

Aliona & Robin skated only one program to "Interludio" from Romeo & Juliet and I thought they were stunning. They did a perfect 3throw salchow which was pretty impressive considering the size of the rink! Lovely lifts and skating skills, I can't wait to see what they come up with this season.

Shizuka opened the show with her program to "Turandot". I have never seen her skate live and really liked her - she is very light on the ice (much more than she looks on TV) and has exquisite movements and positions that she holds very well. Her second program to Madame Butterfly was lovely too. Jumps looked super secure (she did 3toes and 2axels).

That's it! I hope there will be more photos and videos soon. The entire show will be broadcast on Italian TV some time before Christmas and I think another film is planned to be released in cinemas next year.

[lala]

Evgeni was the star of the night and I had the feeling the organizers wanted it to be this way. He really rocked the house and whether you like his skating or not, he really knows how to perform. Jumps and presentation were spot on and he looked so confident. He had a lot of fans in the arena and seemed to be very grateful to be part of the show.
Habanera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeDVCJLs5sM
La Donne e mobile: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsGvnogvmRk

Thx for the report! You are right, in Italy Evgeni is the biggest figure skater star.
Since 31. 12. 2011. he had 8!!!! shows in Italy. And he will perform on Golden Skate Awards, in Torino next month. Torino go crazy for him since 2005 European Championships. No one like him.
one more home video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WlnOVLC8S2M

[lauravvv]

Finally have time to write down some impressions from the show.

Thank you very much or your impressions! But what about Cappellini/Lanotte? Were they so unnoticable that you forgot about them right away ? Or you simply don't/didn't like them?