Name it: Michelle's single best program

[Terri]

One program and one program only. My pick is Lyra Angelica. *I may change that after this season if TRV is skated up to its full potential.

[CollegeJock21]

I have to say it's East of Eden, when I saw it for the first time (which was last year), I thought the sky has opened up and Michelle had wings on her :-)

[skateobsessed21]

Hard question!!!!!! I have to say though, no matter how much I love her others, I think Rachmanninov does it for me. Her performance at the '98 nationals had everything -- the most difficult *technically* sp she's ever done, coupled with overwhelming emotion and the most sophisticated coreography I've ever seen a skater pull off. There's not a program she's done that I don't like, but that one tops my list.

[Sandy]

I would have to agree with collegejock21! EAST OF EDEN DEFINITELY!! She skated it with such complete abandonment and serenity at the world pro that it just moves me soo much!! Not that her other programs doesn't, but EASt of eden was just soo equisite!! SAndy

[ML]

"Dante's Prayer" touched my heart --- She flow so beatifully on ice; I love the music. MK has so many masterpieces --- it is really hard to name a singe one. But for the all things concsiderd, TRV is the best ever :)

[IzzyS]

1)Lyra Angelica (esp. at 1998 Nationals) 2)East of Eden--amazing!! 3)Rachmaninoff

[Dave]

I was in Washington DC that night to see East of Eden at the World Pros and it is definitely my most memorable Michelle live moment, all those slow spiral sequences in person were absolutely mesmerizing, it was wonderful, but it's not my vote for best program, my fave is Taj Mahal but my vote for best program is Lyra Angelica, which is not only Michelle's best but maybe figure skating's best. It made me sick recently on a thread at FSW where they suggest Michelle's failure is to use original music as opposed to more well know classics, clearly they miss the point that she is creating more classics that will be known for generations to come.

[GypsyEsmeralda]

Lyra Angelica (LP) Romanza (SP) Hands (EX.)

[kwanette]

Program or performance?...Nats 98 Rach and 3A...World Pros...98 EOE and Ariane....I know no one seems to like that program, but at WP's it was fab.....If she does a perfect TRV....I might change my mind

[yankgrl46]

oddly my fave programs are the ones i like for my fave costumes. here they are *lyra *eoe (2nd time around) especially at world pros :) *reflection (have it on tape 1) and saw it live at gwg in 98, greats peed :) honrable mention *romanza

[Devon17]

It's so hard to just pick one, but I would have to say Winter. It was breathtaking, especially because she choreographed it herself. My other faves are Rachmoninoff, On My Own, and Ariane.

[ChicaRealidad]

Lyra Angelica. Because it's simple and elegant. There's no wasted movement and no moves that don't explain themselves. The 3 spins in a row give the program a different texture than normal, but also compliment the music and theme of the program. Actually I have to revise my vote a little. It's either LA or the Rachmaninoff...which is just frigging brilliant and by far the best Short Program I've seen in 25+ years of watching figure skating (sorry Janet Lynn).

[mano]

Have to be Rach. I first saw it at Skate America and I already got chills there. When she skated it a National's I almost fainted from the sheer beauty, power, purity, and joy of it. Mastercard should have used that for a commercial 'cause it was priceless. Honorable mentions: Lyra, Taj, and Red Violin

[kuchana]

Oh TOUGH Choice...but...I'd have to split my choices between Romanza and Dante's Prayer..not saying that her other programs are not as good but these two are my absolute favs...

[rcl]

DOD.

[thumpers]

East of Eden, I once sat and watched it over and over again for an hour.

[taf2]

I can't pick one, so I'll put them in categories: Best Competive LP-Ariadne at WP-I've always maintained that that performance at the Olympics (without a 3/3) would have won gold Most Beautiful-Lyra at 98 Nationals Best Competive SP-Rach (anytime she skated it) Best Proam program-Dante's Prayer (I would have picked OMO but that was skated with the broken toe, and she had to scale it down-it really needs a falling leaf where the spread eagle is) But she doesn't have a program I don't like

[aehodman]

SP: Dream of Desdemona, 1996 Skate America LP: Lyra Angelica, 1998 Nationals EXHIB: East of Eden, 1998 World Pros

[Googoo]

Those of you who picked more than one program are CHHHHHHEEEEATTTTTEEEEERRSSS! She said one program and one program only! Sheesh! ANYWAY if I had to pick one and only one Lyra Angelika Breath-taking, beautiful,one move flows effortlessly into another, the jumps, the spins, the end pose... you get the idea! Love the costume too!

[Armchairskater]

I don't care if someone considers it cheating or not, but choosing between eligible and pro-am/exhibition programs is too much of an apples and oranges exercise for me, so I will name one of each. As much as I loved Lyra Angelica, I never have forgotten Salome--perhaps not her greatest in the technical sense nor her most graceful, since it marked the dawn of MK's artistic era, but it had drama and MK had the attack and hunger that she has recaptured only on isolated occasions, so I cast my vote for it among the eligible programs. I will go with the flow and say East of Eden for the non-eligible program, because the blend of the music, choreography, and the beauty of Michelle's skating and expression pack an emotional wallop that never fails to leave me with tears streaming down my face by the close of the program.

[Karin]

IMO...the best is Rach BUT my fave is Lyra!!! :-)

[Liz D.]

let's see...I'd have to say Winter!

[taboo999]

Dave: "It made me sick recently on a thread at FSW where they suggest Michelle's failure is to use original music as opposed to more well know classics" Is this the same FSW that b****ed and whined when MK skated to Carmen last year? It's impossible to keep up with their ever changing views and opinions.

[aries2]

Even though I love all Michelle's programs, There is something about Romanza at the 96 worlds, I mean the way she performed it from beginning to end("look over her shoulder")just amazed me.

[Victoriacai]

I just loved Michelle's Olympic short and long program. Breathtaking! :)

[Deetlebug]

Her 2002 Olympic long program!

[TripleLutz]

SP: Dream of Desdemona LP: Red Violin EX: Kissing You OR East of Eden

[TripleLutz]

SP: Rachmanninov OR Fate of Carmen LP: Red Violin EX: East of Eden OR Kissing You

[NicoleM]

Terri, You have started an interesting topic. Unfortunately, I must refrain from giving an answer, on the grounds that asking a Michelle Kwan fan to pick her best program is like asking a mother to pick her best child! :-)

[eilaram]

Whichever one I am watching. (This question is too hard, it's like choosing between several types of chocolate.)

[Mordecai71]

Lyra Angelica is my pick. It is also my favorite piece to listen to. Very calming. This is beside the point, but I remember one time I was driving home from work and listening to it in the car. It was a gray, rainy day, and I had had a rough day. I got to the climax of the first movement when the clouds parted and a single sunbeam brake through. I thought that was really cool.

[Jarrett]

1) Taj Mahal 2) Dream Of Desdemona 3) Winter Hmmm...looks like I really like the 96-97 season :) Jarrett

[skatingfan]

I always say that for lp Lyra Angelica is my #1 fav, then second is TRV, and the third one is the one I am watching at the moment. TRV is more sophisticated and mature, but L.A. still gives me a glimpse of the younger Michelle.

[lindy3]

Without a doubt, Lyra. But I have to cheat, because Rach, Taj, and EOE were brilliant.

[KellyW]

Knowing how fickle I can be, I will list three choices! Rach Winter East Of Eden Kelly