This Saturday, August 18, in the very heart of Moscow the 2018 Military Bands in the Parks program came to an end. The final concert of this year’s season embraced performances as many as of three military bands, participants of the summer brass concerts in parks, squares and gardens of the capital. The program is being carried out since 2016 by the Directorate of the Spasskaya Tower Festival with the support of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and Government of Moscow via the Department of Culture of the city.
At 4 p.m. sharp the harmonious sounds of wind music performed by the Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation and the Military Exemplary Band of the Honor Guard welcomed the Muscovites and numerous guests of the capital onstage of as many as two concert venues, being the grotto of the Alexander Garden and monument to the Commander Georgy Zhukov.
That sunny day those who visited the open air concerts had an opportunity to listen to their beloved compositions featuring a plethora of genres from the Amur Waves waltz and Marshall Zhukov march to the breathtaking Quadrille and Valenki folk song as well as to the
After an hour that wonderful celebration of music was joined by another military band, being the Central Band of the Navy named after
Then all the musicians met near the grotto of the Alexander Garden forming a combined band. Military artists entertained the numerous public with amazing music pieces encompassing among others the Glory patriotic song to the music of Glinka from the final scene of the Ivan Susanin opera and We Are People’s Army, a
But the wind bands’ concert itself wasn’t finished as it was continued with the performance of the Central Band of the Navy named after
The leading singers of the ensembles performed a number of songs featuring the Pacific Ocean, Blue Sea and others. The evening was closed up with the Russian Waltz, song by Alexandra Pakhmutova.
Near the stage where the bands performed a dance floor was organized. People of different ages were swirling in a dance against the Kremlin walls in the very heart of Moscow.
«Today we are not saying goodbye to the Military Bands in the Parks program, we are telling it see you soon. I want to point out that such meetings with public are very important to each military musician as they are providing for new acquaintances, communication and promotion of military music. We are very happy to observe that the young part of the audience has increased», noted Lieutenant Colonel Konstantin Petrovich, conductor of the Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation.
To recap, for the first time the Military Bands in the Parks program was realized back in 2016 onsite VDNH. The Muscovites and guests of the capital were so enthusiastic about the military bands performances that it was decided to hold them annually. This year the program has encompassed thirteen green venues of Moscow.
At the closing ceremony of the 2018 program season Sergey Smirnov, Head of the Directorate of the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival, stated that the last concert of the 2018 military bands performances cycle wasn’t a sad ending of this wonderful celebration of music in Moscow’s parks. According to him, it is a way to pass on the baton of this music marathon as well as the excellent mood to the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival. All the bands that have performed onstage the green venues of the capital will participate in the Spasskaya Tower Festival. Mr. Smirnov also noted that the Directorate of the Festival was happy to invite everyone to visit free events which would be held within the Festival’s days on Red Square from August 24 to September 2.
The guest of honor of the Saturday’s band music celebration was Alexander Kibovskiy, Minister of the Government of Moscow and Head of the Department of Culture of the City of Moscow.
Mr. Kibovskiy noted that the Military Bands in the Parks program was an excellent project initiated by Lieutenant General Valeri Khalilov, wonderful artist, conductor and composer. Tradition of bands performing in the capital’s public parks has deep roots going back to the Russian Empire period. According to him, it is very pleasant that every year this tradition is being realized to the joy of the Muscovites and guest of the capital and that participants of the Moscow Longevity program make part of it.
Kibovskiy stated that nowadays it was very difficult to imagine a summer in Moscow without the Military Bands in the Parks program. He also thanked everybody who took part in the summer music marathon.
Another guest of honor of the program’s closing ceremony was Pavel Keller, Deputy Head of the Department of Labor and Social Security of the City of Moscow. He highlighted the importance of holding such events which bring love and respect for the beloved ones to everybody’s home.
Let’s remember that the program of summer performances in Moscow parks and gardens started its journey on May 19. During three months some of the best military bands of Russia performed in the Alexander Garden, Muzeon, Victory, Red Presnya, Zaryadye, Sokolniki, Izmailovskiy, Perovskiy and Babushkinskiy parks as well as Ermitazh and Bauman gardens, Vorontsovo Mansion and Kuzminki Museum Preserve.
The Muscovites and guests of the capital were giving an excellent opportunity of becoming guests of remarkable open air concerts and listening to renowned groups performing popular compositions featuring various genres from classical to rock music. The entrance to all the events was free.
The Military Bands in the Parks program is a very graceful and fabulously harmonious music prologue leading to the vibrant Spasskaya Tower Festival, the most grandiose music show of the year 2018, which is going to be held on Red Square from August 24 to September 2.