This Saturday, August 30, foreign and Russian ensembles, taking part in the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival, showcased a gasp-inducing display beneath the walls of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces. The venue made the show even more spectacular. The highlight of the day became the performance of the foreign participants representing as many as nine countries around the world.
The second last day of the summer and the Festival enjoyed incredibly great weather. The hot August sun shone brightly on brass instruments, and epaulets of the orchestras’ players. Though the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces is situated in the Moscow region, the event attracted a large number of people, with the stands quickly getting full.
With Saturday reaching its midday, the show kicked off. The esplanade of the Cathedral Square welcomed about fifteen foreign and Russian ensembles, including guests from Belarus, Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, Italy, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, the UAE, the Republika Srpska and Ethiopia. Unfolding against the gorgeous Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces, both Russian and foreign artistic teams brought vivid vibes, stunning colors, unique national traditions and rich heritage, having proved that music has no boundaries.
This year, ‘We are from Russia’ band had the honor to open the show on the esplanade beneath the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces.
Then the floor was passed to the artists from Kazakhstan. The Central Military Band and the Central Ensemble of the National Military and Patriotic Center of the Kazakhstan Armed Forces wowed the crowds with a genuine theatrical performance depicting traditional music and dance, while the Honor Guard Unit of the Kazakhstan Ministry of Defense provided additional visual highlights. Impressive synchronized movements and disciplined precision combined with the artists’ wit, charm and professionalism took the audiences on an amazing journey along Kazakhstan's vast cultural heritage.
Making their Tattoo debut on the Cathedral Esplanade was the Ethiopian National Defence Force Band. Exploring the legends and traditions, they narrated their story, while the Exemplary Band of the Belarus Armed Forces together with the Band of the Honor Guard of the Minsk Military Commandant’s Unit presented an authentic Belarusian medley.
The Central Military Band of the Russian Ministry of Defense as usual stole the stage and everyone's attention. Musicians presented a brilliantly put together open ground or platz concert, however with a traditional twist. This time it was the choice of repertoire featuring a vibrant medley of popular songs titled after popular Russian names. The Central Military Band performance was all about positive music and lively dances.
For the first time, a band from the UAE was performing beneath the gorgeous Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces. The Band of the Sharjah Police Science Academy impressed with exotic brass music, precise drills, and oriental flair. However, the crowds got goosebumps when the guests from the Middle East performed the familiar sounds of the Cranes and Smuglyanka songs, though with an original twist - using traditional Arab instruments.
The Presidential Orchestra of Burkina Faso and the Zimbabwe Defence Forces Band wowed the audiences with their vibrant dances and flowy tunes, encompassing everyone in the atmosphere of joy and happiness. While paying tribute to their folklore traditions and national customs, they were happy to take the Russian audiences along.
Another debutant on the Cathedral’s esplanade was the 21st Military Band of the Moscow Military District. Musicians cranked the volume with a musical journey through some of the most popular Russian hits from various decades, with the stands immediately picking various tunes.
Arriving directly from sunny Italy, the Historic Flag-Wavers of the Contrade of Cori stepped onto the esplanade to the precise drumming and fanfares. Eye-catching outfits, sonorous rhythms, and spectacular flag throws recalled the atmosphere of distant times that looked particularly impressive beneath the shining domes and magnificent walls of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces. The picturesque art of twirling, throwing, and rotating the flags became one of the show’s highlights.
The Police Orchestra of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Srpska (Bosnia and Herzegovina) have brought to Moscow two of the country’s most renowned marches, being March on the Drina and March of the Kozar Partisans, and aligning perfectly with the Festival leading theme of celebrating the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War. The crowds appreciated a show full of precision, wit, and charm awarding our European guests a handful of applause.
The Combined Military Band of the Russian Airborne Forces appeared on the esplanade to the valiant marching sounds. The elite airborne forces put on an open-ground or platz concert featuring different regrouping patterns, paying tribute to the 80th anniversary of the end of the Great Patriotic War and the 95th anniversary of the Airborne Forces, widely known as the VDV.
The Cathedral Square also welcomed the Suvorov Cadet Band of the Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov Moscow Military Music School, together with the Girl Drummers Band of the All-Girls Boarding School of the Russian Ministry of Defense. These young boys and girls are always winning the crowds and have become the Spasskaya Tower Festival all-time favorites.
As per Festival tradition, a compelling medley of the world renowned classics was performed by the tatoo’s combined band which, with Major General Timofey Mayakin, Music Director of the Festival and Chief Military Conductor of Russia, on its helm. To the sounds of standing ovations and emotionally evoking Victory Day musicians and artists left the square, calling it a day.
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 1800 Rub.
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