FESTIVAL NEWS

Almost fifteen hundred artists representing ten countries from all around the world, over six thousand people on the stands and some of the most outstanding music and dance pieces: the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival grand finale pounded the cobblestones of Moscow’s Red Square.

Today, on the last day of Summer, the cobblestones of Red Square welcomed the daytime show of the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival, presenting the crowds an odyssey of awe-inspiring performances. The international cast of the 2025 tattoo’s run features as many as three ensembles from Africa, including the Ethiopian National Defence Force Marching Band. Though situated in a far away continent, Ethiopia is closer to Russia than it might initially appear. Admiration for the great poet Alexander Pushkin, who took pride in his Ethiopian heritage, and for beautiful music, just to name a few.

The combined performance of the young talented students of the Moscow Military Music College named after Lieutenant General Valery Khalilov and the All-Girls Boarding School of the Russian Ministry of Defense once again presented an emotionally charged music sketch featuring impressive sound and military precision. A story of life and love that eventually triumphed over all the miseries and sadness of war was told in their musical fairytale.

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.

This year the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival is happy to welcome back participants representing Europe. The Historic Flag-Wavers of the Contrade of Cori and the Police Orchestra of the Ministry of Interior of the Republic of Srpska hit the cobblestones of Red Square to wow the crowds. Moreover, multiple winner of international songs awards Fyodor Rytikov made a special guest appearance as the soloist of the Seventeenth Spasskaya Tower Tattoo.

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.

This Wednesday, August 27, Moscow’s Red Square hosted the last day of the ninth Spasskaya Tower Children and Youth Wind Bands Festival. Ensembles from Moscow and its region, Tver and Sakhalin regions had an important mission of wrapping up the amazing three-days celebration of talent and youth. The event featured prize-winners of the Spasskaya Tower Children and Youth Wind Bands Contest and was carried out within the Festival’s main program with the unwavering support of the Ministry of Culture of Russia.

The fifth show of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival is over, and the tattoo is already in full swing. This year the Festival stands embark on an intriguing journey through the Middle East with the Band of the Sharjah Police Science Academy. Not only does the tattoo debutant add some oriental touch to Red Square, but they also pay tribute to Russia by performing some of the most poignant pieces from the war years. The Central Band of the Border Guard Service of the Federal Security Service of Russia follows in. One of the most remarkable highlights of the 2025 cast, the ensemble stepped onto the cobblestones dressed in the same uniform as the participants of the 1945 Victory Parade.

The second day of the Spasskaya Tower Children and Youth Wind Bands Festival commenced on Red Square on Tuesday, August 26. With the long-standing support of the Ministry of Culture of Russia, the event welcomed young musicians from Moscow and Orel.