Art on Ice 2011: It glitters... and it's gold
November 5, 2010
By Nadin Vernon
Photos © Art
on Ice
Art
on Ice celebrated its fifteenth anniversary this year with spectacular
performances from world class skaters and acrobats to live music
by Seven, David Garrett and Anastacia. Six sold out shows in Zürich’s
Hallenstadion attracted more than 70,000 spectators and before the
final curtain fell, the preparations for next yearÂ’s shows were
already in full flow.
Art on Ice is pushing the boat out even further for the
upcoming shows in February 2011, by inviting two divas to perform
as guest stars, ‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer and Welsh mezzo-soprano
Katherine Jenkins.
Donna
Summer who shot to stardom in the disco era of the
seventies with hits such as Love to Love You Baby, Hot
Stuff and Bad Girls, won five Grammys and sold more
than 120 million records. Her latest album Crayons was released
in 2008 after a break and as composer and three-time Oscar winner
Giorgio Moroder put it, confirms the US singer is “as good as ever
– maybe even better”. Incidentally Donna Summer’s visit to Switzerland
will be a first.
ItÂ’s
a little more difficult to define Katherine
Jenkins’ genre. In her own words: “I want to lift
classical music to another level. I want to create something that
hasn’t been done before.” While her debut album Premiere,
released in 2004, included aria Ave Maria and the hymn Lord
is My Shepherd, her latest creation Believe (released
by Warner Bros. in 2009) features KatherineÂ’s very own interpretation
of EvanescenceÂ’s Bring Me to Life and QueenÂ’s Who Wants
to Live Forever - classical crossover at its best. Sexy costumes
complete the Welsh beautyÂ’s stage performance. Katherine was awarded
two consecutive Classical BRIT Awards, entered the UK pop charts
and sold over three million albums worldwide.
World
class musicians, world class skaters: Chinese pair Shen
Xue and Zhao Hongbo will be joining a cast that
is impressive to say the least. Incidentally Who Wants to Live
Forever was the music they chose for their Olympic comeback
earlier this year. The three-time World ChampionsÂ’ plan to give
it one last shot paid off as they skated to Olympic Gold in Vancouver.
The off-ice couple enjoyed a further highlight this year, tying
the knot in a lavish on-ice ceremony in Beijing in September.
Two-time
World Champion Stéphane Lambiel,
who recently vowed US audiences and is one of the most sought after
show stars in the world today, may not be skating at the European
Championships in Bern next January, but he will certainly be skating
at Art on Ice. Stéphane made his debut as a choreographer
this season, working with Daisuke Takahashi and Denis Ten, and the
Swiss will no doubt premier one of his own creations in Zürich.
Olympic
champion Shizuka Arakawa
who teamed up with Stéphane Lambiel for a skating duet earlier this
year is coming back to Art on Ice, as is Evgeni Plushenko.
The 2006 Olympic Champion from Russia who is keeping his fans guessing
when it comes to his possible participation at the 2014 Olympic
Games in Sochi, will be joined by 2008 World Champions Isabelle
Delobel and Olivier Schoenfelder who have now retired from competitive
skating. Representing Canada will be World Champion Jeffrey Buttle
and Olympic Bronze medallist Joannie Rochette who both skated at
Japan Open last month with Joannie achieving the highest
score amongst the ladies. Two-time World Champions Aljona Savchenko
and Robin Szolkowy will be back in Zürich too; prior to Art on
Ice, the German pair will endeavour to regain its European title
in Bern.
This sensational line-up will be complemented by SwitzerlandÂ’s
Sarah Meier who sadly had to withdraw from Skate Canada this weekend
after spraining her ankle in training. SarahÂ’s participation in
Bern is as yet unconfirmed; if you want to be certain to catch the
two-time European silver medallist this season, Art on Ice
is the place to be.
In
fact, getting to see this line-up of skaters under one roof is a
rather unique treat. Amongst them, the currently announced athletes
have won a total of 13 Olympic medals and 11 world titles with further
international stars likely to join the cast. As Oliver Höner, creator,
owner and Artistic Director of Art on Ice says, “these are high
caliber stars we would normally only be able to admire at Olympic
events”. The production will be completed by choreographer Marvin
SmithÂ’s dance team shaking up the stage presence.
So there we have the musicians and the skaters. But if you thought
that was it, think again. Remember, this is Art on Ice and
what makes this show stand out amongst other shows is that you can
expect the unexpected. Art on Ice manages to surprise its
fans year after year with new ideas and concepts, and the 2011 shows
certainly are no exception.
Art on Ice is bringing a 30-piece orchestra and 30-member choir on stage for the occasion. The musicians who represent a mixture between symphony orchestra and big band will be conducted by Christoph Walter from Switzerland during Donna Summer’s set while Steve Sidwell will take over for Katherine Jenkins’ performance. The Englishman orchestrated and conducted Robbie Williams’ concert Live at the Albert Hall and is Katherine Jenkins’ musical director. Steve has worked with mega stars including George Michael, Amy Winehouse, Sting and Sir Elton John and his composition Elements & Motion for the 79th Academy Awards, received an Emmy nomination for ‘Outstanding Picture Editing for a Special’.
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Even when it comes to the presentation of the show, Art on Ice
has a surprise up its sleeve. German comedy duo Oropax, consisting
of brothers Thomas and Volker Martins, are masters of wordplay and
will lead the audience through the show in their very own chaotic
and outrageous way.
If you want to experience this multi-dimensional show live, make
sure to book your tickets well in advance as this yearÂ’s shows were
almost sold out by Christmas. DonÂ’t miss out on the magic!
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For more information on dates, locations, tickets
and line-up, go to www.artonice.com