A French Hero "d'Artagnan"
D'Artagnan, the hero of "The Three Musketeers", is one of the heros French people loves as well as Cyrano de Bergerac. He was a real person in the 17c France. The King Louis XIV appointed him the captain of the musketeers and ordered to arrest Foquet. His success story by means of his swords and wits, was reborn as the dramatic story by Alexandre Dumas for about 150 years ago.
Of course, d'Artagnan isn't only a French hero but a world hero. Even now its Dumas' Story has been a favorite with all people around the world, so a lot of books, movies and dramas have made a appearance. For this reason, I am convinced that Candeloro chose a best program to skate for the Olympic games, because all people in the world could well understand about this thema.
The Musketeers' Story and Candeloro's Program
How he expressed "d'Artagnan"? As you know it was based on the Dumas' story.
At first Candeloro represented d'Artagnan's youthful energy, when he came to Paris, with repetition of jumps and with display of his aerial swords. In those days d'Artagnan always callenged anyone and everyone to a duel, even Athos, Porthos and Aramis!
And after he made friends with the three musketeers, he fell in love with Constance who was a seamstress to the Queen and a wife of his landlord. Because he helped her and the Queen, he showed a talent for strategy and took back the daiamond studs the Queen gave the Duke of Buckingham. In the middle of this program Candeloro skated it romantic and elegantly. I think his performance twirling his mustache and carrinng something on his hands expressed the scene that he handed the daiamonds to Constance.
Directly after the scene, a serious situation was happened. The Cardinal had Constance abducted. Though d'Artagnan couldn't meet his love, he must go to the front at La Rochelle. And a danger was walking up to Constance... Through the straight line step of fencing style all people surprised, Candeloro perfectly played d'Artagnan's violent battle.
At the last scene, his courage was considered the Cardinal. He was finally given a commision in the musketeers by Richelieu. The skating of this part made a glorious impression of d'Artagnan's life.
Candeloro's Costumes of "d'Artagnan"
Candeloro also dressed elaborately in this "d'Artagnan" as well as his all programs. His long heir, mustache, leather gloves and riding boots was a typical fashion of French nobleman in those days. His jacket and slacks come up to skate was adopted the elements of puff sleeves and sword belt.
Especially, his right hand was worthy of note. He put on a brack leather glove to have his imaginary sword in his right hand, though he put on a another glove made of another material in left. Why? It was a mystery of his program. As you know, the musketeers put on the same gloves in their both hands, when we watch the movies of musketeers. I think it was the reason for a rule of game or his safety... What do you think it?
And he added a red big ring on his finger. I felt he was a stickler for detail of costumes. It was directly irrelevant to this program. But in the story of Dumas, d'Artagnan's two rings were important items. One was a diamond ring presented by the Queen when he took back the studs. The other was a sapphire ring he cheated Milady who was a agent of Cardinal and former wife of Athos. I think Candeloro put on it to image the diamond ring, because it was a memorial item of d'Artagnan's youth. I suggest the reason why he chose red ring, that the red ring was conspicuous better than diamond on the ice.
<©The Three Musketeers Club Japan / Report: No.19 Louis Isezaki>