Today Moscow’s Red Square hosted the opening night of the Fourteenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival that will unfold from August 27 to September 5 in the COVID free format.
“The main theme of the Festival reads Time, Music and Peace, with music being the best cure for a human soul that gives hope in the world taken over by the COVID-19 pandemic. This year we welcome military bands from Belarus, Greece, Mexico, Qatar and, of course, Russia. There are only five participants, but the scale of the spectacle won’t be affected”, assured the Festival organizers.
Tonight the cobblestones of Red Square were hit by 1200 military musicians who staged a high-end defile full of powerful marches, tender waltzes and vibrant contemporary pieces. Audiences also saw picturesque national dances as well as strong honor guard units performing intricate arm drill patterns.
Performed by the Suvorov Cadet Band of the Moscow Military Music College n.a. Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, sounds of the Spasskaya Tower fanfare and drums got the celebration started, giving the floor to the President’s Band and Honor Guard Unit (both belonging to the Moscow Kremlin Commandant’s Service of the Federal Guard Service of Russia).
Among this year’s Russian participants there are also the Combined Band of the Russian Airborne Forces, the Cadet Band of the Military Institute (of Military Conductors,MoD), the Central Military Band of the Russian MoD, the Military Band and Honor Guard of the 154 Preobrazhensky Regiment, the Central Band of the Border Guard Service, bands representing Russia’s National Guard Forces, Moscow Cossack Choir, the Kremlin Equestrian School, and of course, the Suvorov Cadet Band together with the students of the All-Girls Boarding School (MoD).
The night was crowned by the performance of gorgeous Tamara Gverdtsiteli, Honored Artist of Russia and Georgia, to the accompaniment of the Central Military Band of the Russian MoD. Tamara Gverdtsiteli has been part of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo since 2015, becoming the Festival’s loyal friend. This year you may enjoy her performances every day till September 3.
The organizers have also prepared a surprise for the guests and participants of the 2021 Festival. Russian cosmonauts Oleg Novitskiy and Pyotr Dubrov greeted everyone directly from space.
As a matter of the Festival’s long-established pattern, the night ended with the Festival participants’ Combined Band performing the medley of popular songs from all over the world, followed by the iconic Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture and Agapkin’s Farewell of Slavianka. Major General Timofey Mayakin, Head of the Military Band Service of the Russian Armed Forces-Chief Military Conductor and Music Director of the Festival, was on the helm of the Combined Band, as usual.
And to finish the first night show even stronger, the sky over Red Square was coloured by the breathtaking fireworks leaving no one untouched.
Tonight the Festival’s stands welcomed several guests of honor from Oman, Mexico, Greece and Qatar.
