Composer Creates Custom Opera for Olympic Skater in Milan

When Christopher Tin heard that figure skater Yuma Kagiyama needed music for the Olympics, the Grammy-winning composer didn't just send a file. He created something entirely new.

Tin recorded a custom four-minute version of his own ending to Puccini's opera "Turandot" at London's legendary Abbey Road Studios with a full orchestra and opera chorus. The piece was surgically edited in collaboration with renowned choreographer Lori Nichol to match the precise timing Kagiyama needs for his jumps, spins, and rest periods.

The timing couldn't be more perfect. Kagiyama will perform the program at the Milano Cortina Olympics this month, exactly 100 years after "Turandot" premiered in the same Italian city. Tin and his family will be in the arena watching.

"To have this big showcase moment for this new recording to come out 100 years after the premiere of Turandot, in the city in which Turandot premiered, at the biggest global event in the world," Tin said. "I can't think of one bigger."

The collaboration started when Italian figure skating champion Carolina Kostner messaged Tin about working together. Choreographer Lori Nichol had become a passionate advocate for his music after hearing his opera compositions, including his newly completed ending to Puccini's unfinished masterpiece.

Tin's unlikely path to opera began when Washington National Opera's artistic director heard her son playing the video game "Civilization VI" in his bedroom. Tin had composed the game's theme music, and she reached out about bringing his talent to opera.

The Ripple Effect

The movement toward custom music is spreading through figure skating. American Ilia Malinin, the favorite for men's gold, created a deeply personal free program featuring his own voice speaking philosophical lines about embracing pressure and uncertainty.

Canadian ice dancers Paul Poirier and Piper Gilles worked directly with British duo Govardo to create a collaborative musical piece. French ice dancer Guillaume Cizeron partnered with Swiss choreographer Stephane Lambiel after being moved to tears watching him skate to "The Whale" soundtrack.

These collaborations represent a shift in competitive figure skating from simply selecting existing music to treating programs as genuine artistic partnerships. Athletes and composers are building emotional narratives together from the ground up.

At the Milan Olympics, audiences will witness not just athletic excellence but the result of months of creative collaboration between skaters, choreographers, composers, and musicians.