Japan and Italy amicably shared, in the second week of September, the gold medals of Lombardia Trophy: in Bergamo, Shoma Uno and Wakaba Higuchi won their individual events, while dancers Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri and pair skaters Nicole della Monica and Matteo Guarise retained the shiniest medals on home ground; as a matter of fact, it was an all-Italian podium in the pairs discipline.
Summary by Florentina Tone/photos by Wilma Alberti and Alice Ponti
…and it is with the pairs event that we are starting this photo-story with: Italy captured the entire set of medals, with Nicole della Monica and Matteo Guarise taking the gold (185.18 points), Valentina Marchei and Ondrej Hotarek, the silver (179.56 points), and Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini, the bronze (144.70 points).
The podium in the pairs event, at this year’s edition of Lombardia Trophy; the joy, the enthusiasm are more than obvious
Nicole della Monica and Matteo Guarise skating their short program to „O Fortuna” from „Carmina Burana” by Carl Orff, performed by The Piano Guys
Nicole and Matteo, during their emotional free skate in Bergamo, to „Love Story”, performed by Nana Mouskouri
Valentina Marchei and Ondrej Hotarek – short program in Bergamo, to „Seven Nation Army” by Scott Bradlee’s Postmodern Jukebox
Valentina and Ondrej – free skate at 2016 Lombardia Trophy, to music from the movie „Mission: Impossible” and Adele’s „Skyfall”
Rebecca Ghilardi and Filippo Ambrosini – and their free program, to „Homecoming” and „The Ocean Princess” by Thomas Bergersen
Shoma Uno internationally debuted his brand new programs at Lombardia Trophy – and ran away with the gold (258.93 points), while Jason Brown took the silver (256.49 points), and also the highest components’ prize. Max Aaron closed the podium, with the 218.73 points.
The three medalists in the men’s event at 2016 Lombardia Trophy, proudly showing their gifts and medals
Shoma Uno during his short program, skated to „Fantasy for Violin and Orchestra”, from the movie „Ladies in Lavender”
El tanguero Shoma Uno – his free skating this season is set to „Buenos Aires Hora Cero” and „Balada para un loco”
This season, in his SP, Jason Brown is skating to Sam Smith’s „Writing’s on the Wall”
Set to music from the movie „The Piano”, composed by Michael Nyman, Jason’s free program embraces him beautifully; both programs have been choreographed by Rohene Ward.
To say Jason’s free skate was well received in Bergamo is an understatement
Max Aaron has kept his short program from last season, to „Nessun dorma” by Giacomo Puccini
For the free, Max is skating to music from the movie „The Lion King”, composed by Hans Zimmer
In her first international event at senior level, Wakaba Higuchi won the gold (178.86 points), closely followed by Korea’s Na Hyun Kim (177.27 poinst) and America’s Mirai Nagasu (176.86 points).
The three medalists of this year’s edition of Lombardia Trophy, all smiles
In her first season in seniors, Wakaba skates to music (by Ennio Morricone) from the movie „La Califfa, in her SP”; the routine has been choreographed by Shae-Lynn Bourne.
For the long program, Wakaba turned to classical music – as her outfit points out, she embodies Scheherazade, as it was imagined by composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov in his symphonic suite. The program was choreographed by Massimo Scali.
Silver medalist in Bergamo, Na Hyun Kim skates to (probably) Whitney Houston’s most famous song: „I Will Always Love You”
For the free skating, Na Hyun has chosen to skate to music from the movie „House of Flying Daggers”
Frédéric Chopin’s „Nocturne no. 20 in C-sharp minor” is Mirai Nagasu’s musical choice for this season’s short program – and she skates it with ease and sensibility; the routine has been choreographed by Jeffrey Buttle
…and it’s equally great to witness Mirai skating to a touching version of a famous song, „The Winner Takes It All”, as performed by Sarah Dawn Finer; David Wilson choreographed the free program, and it suits wonderfully Mirai’s featherly skate.
So Youn Park, 5th place at this year’s edition of Lombardia Trophy, during her free skate to „Aranjuez Mon Amour”, performed by Nana Mouskouri, choreo by David Wilson
Two faces of Kanako Murakami, 6th place in Bergamo: joyously laughing, in her red costume, seconds before entering the role of Carmen in her short program, and then focused, in-all-seriousness, during her Tosca free skate; both routines have been choreographed by Mihoko Higuchi.
The ice dancing event in Bergamo was dominated by Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri (162.12 points) – more than 20 points separated them from the silver medalists, Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson (139.60 points); 3rd place winners in Bergamo were Finland’s Cecilia Törn and Jussiville Partanen (130.76 points).
The medalists in the ice dancing event, at this year’s edition of Lombardia Trophy
For their short dance, Charlène Guignard and Marco Fabbri have chosen to skate to a Grease Medley – and their costumes are more than telling
…whilst for the free dance, the Italians have chosen the famous „Nutcracker” by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Great Britain’s Lilah Fear and Lewis Gibson are skating to Blues („Save My Soul”) and Swing („Diga, Diga, Do”) in their SD
…while Josh Groban’s voice („You Raise Me Up”) accompanies them in the free skate
Bronze medalists in Bergamo, Cecilia Törn and Jussiville Partanen have their free dance this season set to a very interesting musical combination: „Stonemilker” by Björk and „The Golden Age” by Woodkid
