Mahler at the Olympics

[Damfino]

Dunno if any of you watched the Ice Dancing finals at the Winter Olympics last night. I was pleased that the winning Canadian couple skated/danced to the M5 adagietto. That's the first time I remember hearing Mahler in a figure skating or ice dancing event.

[Russell]

Yep--I noticed it, too!  I had the volume turned down (it was very late), but I remember hearing the PA announcer saying something like "they will be skating to Mahler's Symphony No. 5", at which point my ears perked up.  Of course it was the Adagietto, and quite butchered-up at that (did I hear a piano there, too?) but it was nice to hear anyway.  Glad the Canadian couple won--they were fabulous.

Russell

[mike bosworth]

Dunno if any of you watched the Ice Dancing finals at the Winter Olympics last night. I was pleased that the winning Canadian couple skated/danced to the M5 adagietto. That's the first time I remember hearing Mahler in a figure skating or ice dancing event.

I too have not previously heard Mahler used for a skating competition.  They used the same music a few months ago in Tokyo:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hhDWAVlS6g

It sounds like a piano is replacing the harp part.

Mike Bosworth

[john haueisen]

Yes, even my wife noticed the M5 adagietto.  She called me in to watch the skaters, and then surprised me when she noticed the cuts and patches they had to make. 
I too was annoyed by the piano part, but I guess we have to take whatever the skaters need to do to make it fit into their routine.  Perhaps, on the bright side, a few more people may have noticed the music, and may further investigate the beauty of Mahler's works.
--John H