Sergey Smirnov: “Preserving Health of the Spasskaya Tower Festival Guests and Participants Will Be the Outmost Priority”

On August 6, 2020 the TASS press center hosted the official online press conference dedicated to the Thirteenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival that will unfold on Moscow’s Red Square from August 28 to September 6, 2020. Leading theme of this year’s production is ‘75 Years since the War Ended’.

The press conference was led by Mr Sergey Smirnov, Head of the Spasskaya Tower Festival Directorate and member of the Festival Public Council, Major General Timofey Mayakin, Head of the Band Military Service of the Russian Armed Forces — Chief Military Conductor and Festival Music Director, Mr Yuriy Markholia, Stage Director of the Festival.

Mr Smirnov revealed to the participants what were the main ideas driving the organization of this year’s Festival forward in times of the pandemic, as well as the respective restrictions:
“It was not an easy decision to make”, told the Head of the Spasskaya Tower Festival Directorate. “We had so many heated discussions, so many things to reason and thought about. But according to the specialists COVID-19 has come to stay, and it won’t be leaving us in the near future. Hence, we probably have to learn to deal with the new reality — this new paradigm”.

Mr Smirnov highlighted that the current year was very important as Russia was celebrating the 75^th anniversary of the Great Patriotic War Victory and the Festival couldn’t let that pass unnoticed.

He stressed that preserving health of the Spasskaya Tower Festival guests and participants would be of the outmost priority. “Following all the guidelines developed by the Russian Ministry of Health and Rospotrebnadzor is the main task of the organizers. First of all, this year stands’ seating plans have been finalized respecting the social distancing rules. Usually the audience scope of our evening shows is 7.5 thousand people, but this year it will be reduced to about three thousand guests. Distant thermometry, sanitizers, handing out of free masks and gloves are some of the measures that will be carried out. Entrances will be opened two hours before the show starts to maintain the social distance. We will ensure that all the participants and organizers also follow the guidelines. But we are sure that despite all these we will be able to succeed and preserve the usual high standards”.

Nevertheless, this year’s production will have some losses. Thus, the 2020 Festival will lack the traditional Children’s Playground and the Spasskaya Tower for Kids activities including the Children and Youth Wind Band Festival as well as Children and Youth Interregional Honor Guard Contest. According to Mr Smirnov, it was a great pity as those events had always been among the audiences’ favorites. The good news is that the horse-riding arena will remain in place, hosting the traditional performances staged by the Kremlin Equestrian School. The day-time program of the Festival will be free as usual. Mr Smirnov noted that the Festival would not give up its charity program involving free distribution of tickets as well as construction of special ramps for people with restricted capacity.

When asked whether the 2020 production fitted the overall development concept of the Festival, Mr Smirnov remarked that the current situation had provide the organizers with a unique opportunity. “This year’s show will be as great as usual and won’t fall out of the record. Furthermore, I think that this pandemic has created new momentum for development of the military band movement in Russia”, he added.

“Besides the concept will be preserved, as regardless the present grave economic and emotional situation our loyal friends and partners have remained with us. I’m primarily talking about Rostec State Corporation, Transneft Company and ROSOBORONEXPORT Company that celebrates its 20^th birthday this year”, continued Head of the Spasskaya Tower Festival Directorate.

Mr Smirnov announced that in 2020 the dates of the Festival would once again coincide with the celebrations of the Day of Moscow, meaning that military bands, participants of the Spasskaya Tower Festival, would perform in the city parks, squares and railway stations as usual.

He added that 2020 would see the continuation of the successful collaboration between the Spasskaya Tower Festival and Moscow Longevity Special Project (carried out under the auspices of the Mayor of Moscow). “Participants of the project have prepared a number of creative performances, while military equipment displayed on Red Square will make up a great set”.

Asked about the tickets that had been sold before the pandemic breaking out, Mr Smirnov explained the following. Sales started back in December, with tickets quickly becoming a popular New Year gift. All these tickets are still valid, but if necessary, they may be changed for new ones in order to comply with the new seating plans. According to him, a lot of tickets were returned by the Swiss and Chinese who were planning to come to Russia to witness performances of their bands.