Russian figure skating star Evgeni Plushenko is to perform his new free program to Italian composer Nino Rota’s music from a 1968 film version of Romeo and Juliet, his coach Alexei Mishin told R-Sport on Friday.
The seven-time European champion, 29, is in Italy working with Japanese choreographer and former skater Kenji Miyamoto on the program, Mishin said.
“I suggested to Zhenya [Plushenko] to work with Japanese choreographer Kenji Miyamoto, he’s making him a free program to the music of Romeo and Juliet,” Mishin said.
“It’s working out very well. I’m very satisfied with Zhenya’s mood and working condition.”
Plushenko, who recently performed at exhibitions in China and Japan, is showing no ill-effects from knee surgery that he underwent in Germany earlier this year, Mishin said.
“He’s completely healthy, nothing’s troubling him.”
Italian choreographer Pasquale Camerlengo joined Plushenko’s team in April and is working with him to refine various elements in his existing programs.
Plushenko, who won gold in Turin in 2006, is on his second comeback to the sport and targets gold at his home Olympics in Sochi in 2014.
