The Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival symbolizes cultural cooperation between Russia and foreign states, promoting interaction and experience sharing between the armed forces, military bands, and organizations around the world.
Today, August 25, the State Historical Museum of Moscow hosted the press conference of the Fifteenth Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival.
Mr. Sergey Khlebnikov, Artistic Director of the Festival and Head of the Regional Security and Anticorruption Department of Moscow, expressed gratitude to the heads, conductors, and all the members of the foreign bands for becoming part of the 2022 military tattoo run.
"For the fifteenth time in a row, the Spasskaya Tower Festival on Red Square conveys the impulse of the Russian musicians as well as of Russian culture to cooperate with the international ensembles, organizations, and departments of the armed forces," noted Mr. Khlebnikov. According to the Festival’s artistic director, the Spasskaya Tower Festival was created as a military tattoo and goes on keeping loyal to the format, but the organizers are always glad to welcome foreign folklore and traditional ensembles.
"Thus, we’d like to highlight our respect for the national traditions and national culture of various countries," remarked Mr. Khlebnikov.
He also thanked the Presidential Executive Office, the Government of Moscow and other state departments that contributed to the organization of this grand musical celebration, as well as the foreign embassies, military attaches and heads of states that made possible the performances of the Festival foreign participants.
According to Major General Timofey Mayakin, Music Director of the Festival, Head of the Military Band Service of the Russian Armed Forces-Chief Military Conductor, the audiences will be treated to various musical surprises.
"I won’t break the intrigue, but I suppose that the audience will enjoy the show. The specialty of this year’s program is the pool of its participants, as bands representing all the country’s military and security departments will step onto the cobblestones of Red Square", underlined Major General Timofey Mayakin. He added that on September 3, for the first time in the Festival’s history, the daytime show will take place in the Cathedral Square of the Main Cathedral of the Russian Armed Forces.
Mr. Sergey Smirnov, Director of the Spasskaya Tower Festival, thanked the Moscow audiences for their interest and support over the past fifteen years.
According to him, despite all the COVID-19 restrictions, the Festival has gone on giving happy emotions to its loyal fans. "It was a truly hard period with a lot of different restrictions in place. Nevertheless, we managed to carry out our Festival. The Spasskaya Tower Festival is the only military tattoo that has never taken a pause," highlighted Mr. Smirnov.
He noted that this year's grand musical celebration will leave Red Square and travel to Moscow's park and gardens, as is customary.Thus, the Center of National Equestrian Traditions at VDNH opened its doors to host the Festival’s daytime activities. "Our steadfast growth and development is one of the Festival’s main features," highlighted Mr. Smirnov.
Meanwhile, Mr. Alexey Levykin, member of the Public Council of the Festival and Director of the State Historical Museum, said that the museum, which this year is celebrating its 150th anniversary, has been not only a witness but also a participant in the Festival all these 15 years.
“The aim of the State Historical Museum is to preserve traditions, and the huge collection of the museum, counting about 5 million pieces of exhibits, includes the most ancient musical instruments that were discovered on the territory of Russia. And this is what at one time was called the voices of the army regiments of our country, ”said Alexei Levykin. He stressed that the State Historical Museum is always happy to welcome the organizers and participants of the Spasskaya Tower Festival within its walls.
The Festival is carried out following the Order of the Russian President Vladimir Putin, under the aegis of the Public Council headed by Mr. Alexander Zhukov, First Deputy Chairman of the State Duma of the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation, with the support of the Russian Ministry of Defense and the Moscow Department of Culture.
Photo: Alexey Moschenkov, press office of the State Historical Museum
