Music of the Spasskaya Tower: Jens Lindemann and the Central Military Band of the Russian Ministry of Defense

There is nothing more emblematic than the start of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival coinciding with the beginning of the New Year. By the way, tickets for the Festival’s thirteenth run that will take place August 28 to September 6 are already on sale.

There is quite a long way to go before we witness the spectacular show unfolding on the cobblestones of Red Square. Nevertheless, music of the Festival may already be heard. Thus, January 13, Moscow’s Zaryadye Concert Hall hosted a concert featuring one of the stars of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Tattoo.

Organized by the Festival’s Directorate, the event was inspired by Lieutenant General Sergey Khlebnikov, Head of the Moscow Kremlin Commandant’s Service-Moscow Kremlin Commandant and member of the Festival’s Public Council, and Major General Timofey Mayakin, Head of the Russian Military Band Music Service-Chief Military Conductor and Honored Artist of Russia. Besides the project gained support of the Russian Ministry of Defense, Moscow Government Department of Culture, administration of the Zaryadye Concert Hall, and Yamaha Music, good friend and long-time partner of the Spasskaya Tower Tattoo.

That evening audiences had a wonderful opportunity to spend their time at Zaryadye in the company of the spectacular Central Military Band of the Russian Ministry of Defense, the heart and soul of the Spasskaya Tower Festival. Led by Colonel Sergey Durygin, the band staged a magnificent and vibrant performance sharing the floor with other prominent artists. Jens Lindemann, one of the world’s best trumpet soloists from Canada, Ignat Krasikov, a talented clarinet player from Russia, and Vladimir Lebedev, a renowned Russian trombonist: these are some of the names that helped create the atmosphere.

Among the guests of the evening there were cadets of the Valery Khalilov Moscow Military Music College Band and members of the Girls Drummer Band of the All-Girls Boarding School of the Russian Ministry of Defense as well as veterans of the Military Band Music Service of the Russian Federation.

Sounds of world’s biggest classics and popular hits, national songs and movie themes filled the spacious Zaryadye concert hall. This evening the overture from Gioachino Rossini’s La gazza ladra and Pablo de Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy shared the stage with Queen’s rock-n-roll and Isaac Dunaevskiy’s songs.

As the compositions were flying by the atmosphere was changing as well. Thus, Karl Feldman’s Winter Fairytale brought a touch of the frosty New Year eve while Pablo de Sarasate’s Carmen Fantasy performed by the clarinetist Ignat Krasikov took the audiences to warm and distant Spain. Dmitry Shostakovich’s Suite, pieces by Émile Waldteufel and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov were performed so masterfully that audiences literally felt music talking to them. Every single tone, every little detail: none was missed by the musicians.

Jens Lindemann presented Alexander Arutunian’s Trumpet Concerto in A-flat major. Supported by the Central Military Band he also performed Queen’s Who Wants to Live Forever. Prominent Canadian performer said that it was dream of a life time to perform Arutunian’s Concert with Russian musicians. While talking about Queen’s timeless hit he pointed out that it was the case when the melody was so breathtaking that no words were needed.

Hence, the house was brought down. The audiences were so excited that they wouldn’t let the musician go even when the concert reached its end. And on that note musicians started singing. Sounds of the very popular Russian song about wintertime spread over the hall, capturing and taking everyone along.

Thus, not far from the ancient cobblestones of Moscow’s Red Square, in the strong atmosphere of pure joy, the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival started its march through the thirteenth festival cycle.