Uniting some of the best ensembles from around the world, the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival also celebrates the timeless art of singing, with the cobblestones of Red Square providing a stage for the most talented soloists. This year the cast of the Spasskaya Tower tattoo was enriched by Vasily Ladyuk, one of the best opera soloists of the new generation and Honored Artist of Russia.
His solo singing career spans more than two decades, while his accomplishments list appearances on the stage of some of the world’s most prestigious opera houses, including the Bolshoy Theater, Metropolitan Opera, Opéra de Paris Garnier, La Scala, and others. He is a good friend of the Spasskaya Tower Festival and not a rookie at the Festival’s stage. This year Vasily Ladyuk graced the ancient cobblestoners of Red Square with his extraordinary lyric baritone, performing a song by Yuriy Gulyaev to the accompaniment of the Central Military Band of Russia.
As per Mr Ladyuk, he was personally acquainted with Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov, the first artistic director of the Spasskaya Tower Military Tattoo. He thus approached the Festival with a specific set of feelings. “I am a huge fan of military wind music. And I didn’t hesitate at all to accept the invitation. I am hitting the cobblestones almost at the end of the show, that’s why we decided that Yuriy Gulyaev’s song “I wish you” would perfectly align with the Festival’s leading idea”, said Mr Ladyuk. According to the renowned opera singer, the song was a message wishing everyone joy and happiness and really hit the mark. “I hope I will return to the Spasskaya Tower Festival and meet these wonderful audiences again. I hope the Festival will live on so that this great celebration of art and music can happen every year on the leading square of the country”, the prominent artist shared his emotions.
The stunning performance of the Exemplary Band of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus joined by the Band of the Honor Guard of the Minsk Military Commandant’s Unit evoked powerful emotions, giving everyone goosebumps. The ensembles’ talented solo singers won the stands over by performing a plethora of traditional Belarus songs that are very popular among the Russian audiences, including Pakhmutova’s Belovezhskaya Pushcha and Luchenok’s Cranes are Flying to Polesie. However the fan-favourite song of the night was Belay, Belay Rus’, with the crowds singing, cheering and clapping in time.
“This year we have come to the Festival ready to wow the audiences with a different program. Celebrating our culture and heritage we have reimagined some of Belarus most popular songs with a military twist. So you may expect an unforgettable musical experience”, highlighted Captain Artyom Muraviev, Deputy Head of the Exemplary Band of the Belarus Armed Forces. Speaking about the unusual musical instruments, he drew attention to lyra that the band managed to organically incorporate in their performance. “The Festival audiences are very welcoming and responsive. People on the stands sing along and applaud in time. It’s a priceless experience, and we are very happy to be part of the Spasskaya Tower Festival, the iconic event in the world of wind music”, he said.
Another highlight of the night was the music sketch presented by the Exemplary Band of the Central Military Commandant’s Office supporting activities of the National Guard Forces of Russia. They put together an ambitious production recreating the scene of the 1945 Victory Parade when victorious Soviet soldiers threw the flags of the defeated Nazi forces to the footstep of the Mausoleum. The accompanying drill team of the Honor Guard Unit provided additional visual highlights, offering impressive performances with synchronized movements and disciplined precision.
“This year we mark the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War. Thus, we wanted to draw the bridge between the past and the future and decided to recreate the main highlights of those hard years”, commented Colonel Azat Shakhmukhametov, Head of the Exemplary Band of the Russian National Guard Forces.
The Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower Festival is unfolding on the cobblestones of Moscow’s Red Square between August 22 and 31. The tattoo’s overwhelming production enjoys the unwavering organizational and/or financial support of the Russian Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, and Moscow Government Department of Culture.
Tickets for the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo are available for sale on the Festival official website (spasstower.ru), with prices starting from 1600 Rub.
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