Opening an email a couple of weeks ago, I had been invited along with friends to attend Skating Classics with Kurt Browning at the Royal Theatre on Broughton Street. Skating and the symphony? How ever would this be accomplished? As a teenager, a very long time ago, I had taken figure skating lessons, had been amazed at anyone that could figure skate and have followed some of the skating world since. On ice, there were always, beautiful, exciting or just plain fun pieces of music. The skaters interpreted them with great artistry. But in an opera house? On stage?
Yesterday, we were treated to an afternoon filled with laughter and wonder, music and videos, still shots and more music. Kurt Browning, a four-time Canadian figure skating champion and four-time World Champion, who represented Canada in three Winter Olympics was our host and teller of figure skating tales. Kurt Browning spoke of the athleticism of skaters, but stressed the artistry of figure skaters. He highlighted figure skating history and introduced us to some charming tiny figure skaters of tomorrow. Kurt Browning introduced the videos, shown on screen at the back of the stage, that include a number of different figure skating stars. He gave special tribute to Toller Cranston whose artistry changed the picture of this sport. Some of Kurt Browning’s costumes were, well, flaunted, including a purple velvet coat he insisted that Maestro Lucas Waldin wear. The audience supported this fanciful gesture much to the chagrin of Maestro Waldin.
The last piece just before intermission was a real treat. Vocalist, Geoffrey Tyler performed Singin’ In the Rain, complete with umbrella and tap dancing. Rounding out this lovely skating number, Kurt Browning skated across the stage on roller blades. He and Geoffrey Tyler shared the stage as they executed this number to tap dancing and roller blading.
Victoria Symphony was masterful and grand throughout the afternoon. They played Casablanca while a younger Kurt Browning skated. Their arrangement was complete with the edits required for Kurt Browning skating as Rick from the movie Casablanca. Musical scores from Gershwin, Tchaikovsky, movies, ABBA, Boléro and many more provided an extremely satisfying backdrop for Kurt Browning, his wonderful sense of humour and for figure skating through the years.
Figure skating is elegant and requires a lot of dedication. Symphonic music is elegant and requires a lot of dedication. The simplicity of combining the two becomes very obvious, whether onstage or on ice. It was a fun afternoon!
“Doing shows is always a side of skating that I’ve loved, it’s the performing.
I get to do that without the pressure, it’s always fun between the skaters
and the preparations, the show is always so much fun.”
~ Kurt Browning
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