Moscow has just seen the sixth night show of the Twelfth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival rolling out on Red Square with performance of fabulous Hibla Gerzmava, Russian star on the world’s opera stage, as the highlight.
Each evening, from August 23 to September 1, Festival’s participants are vowing the audiences with their talents and phenomenal skills. This year Moscow is welcoming participants from twelve countries featuring Azerbaijan, Belarus, Egypt, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, DPR of Korea, Norway, Republic of Korea, Russia, Turkey, Japan and two international groups – the International Celtic Massed Pipes and Drums and the International Celtic Dance Team.
This time we want to tell you a little bit more about the Turkish Armed Forces Armoni Band, our guests from Turkey. Founded in 1826 following the order of Ottoman Sultan Mahmud II, the ensemble is one of the oldest music institutions of the country. For their show musicians have opted for classical and traditional music pieces including Mozart’s Rondo alla Turca, Şehnaz Longa by Santuri Ethem Efendi as well as Yağcılar Zeybeği and Trabzon folk songs. Following the leading Solo with a Bandproduction theme, participants from Turkey have also brought a solo performance to Moscow. Counter-tenor Senior Lieutenant Samed Kaherman steps on the cobblestones of Red Square to perform Händel’s Rinaldo. It’s worth noting that counter-tenor is one of the most high-pitched male voices.
Along with the best Russian and foreign military bands, artistic and folklore ensembles each show of the Spasskaya Tower Tattoo features performances by the world-famous vocalists, special guests of the Festival. The 2019 production has already awarded the audiences performances by Igor Butman, Tamara Gvedtsiteli, Anita Tsoi and Hibla Gerzmava.
Hibla Gerzmava, People’s Artist of Russia and Abkhazia Republic, staged today her second performance within the 2019 run of the Festival. To the accompaniment of the Central Military Band of the Russian Ministry of Defense led by Colonel Sergey Durygin, Head of the Band and Honored Artist of Russia, she performed a song by Isaac Dunaevskiy.
“I feel very proud of performing at the Spasskaya Tower Festival”, said Hibla Gerzmava after the show. “I love this festival very much with all its beauty and grandeur and I’m glad to once again become part of it. Speaking about the song choice, I’m aware that audiences want to hear our Russian songs and Dunaevskiy suits the purpose the best”, added the world’s opera star.
As usual, the splendid fireworks closed off the sixth Festival show on Red Square.
This evening the stands of the Festival welcomed Brigadier General Alfonso Miro, Military Attaché of Italy, Maestro Harada Genkiti, Chairperson of the Asia Pacific Wind Bands Association, Ms. Sato Sidzue, Master of the traditional Japanese tea ceremony, Mr. Ermek Ukibaev, Deputy Commander of the Special Forces of the State Security Service of the Kazakhstan Republic, Mr. Li Seog Bae, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Korea to the Russian Federation, and Major General Andrey Filyakin, Commander of the Presidential Regiment.
