The book about life and work of Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, prominent military conductor, composer and first Music Director of the Spasskaya Tower Festival, saw light in the days of the Twelfth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival.
The book was issued by the Molodaya GvardiyaRussian publishing house within the Lives of Remarkable Peoplebiography series with the support of the Public Council and Directorate of the Spasskaya Tower Festival. The presentation of the book was held in Moscow and in Novinki village of the Vladimir region, the native place of Valery Khalilov.
The author of the book is Vasiliy Tsitsankin, military musician, teacher and Candidate of Historical Sciences. While working on the book he used various archive documents as well as recollections shared by Valery Khalilov’s relatives, friends, former students, fellow Russian and foreign colleagues, public and political figures, acquaintances of the great Russian artist. Among them there is Lieutenant General Sergey Khlebnikov, Head of the Moscow Kremlin Commandant’s Service – Commandant of the Moscow Kremlin, General of the Army Sergey Shoigu, Russian Minister of Defense, Alexandra Pakhmutova, prominent Russian composer, piano player and People’s Artist of the USSR, Lieutenant Colonel Philip Tang, Head of the Military Bands Music Service of the Singapore Armed Forces. All these stories are full of warmth and kindness and help creating a comprehensive image of Valery Khalilov, prominent Russian artist, military conductor great person.