The International Military Music Festival Spasskaya Tower, which opened on Moscow’s Red Square on Saturday, September 1, involved unique orchestras from more than 12 countries. This year’s festival is dedicated to the Russian Victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon.
The Fifth International Military Music Festival “Spasskaya Tower” opened in Moscow. Festival participants marched down Tverskaya Street from Triumfalnaya Square toward Manezh Square. Photo: Soldiers of Austria’s k.u.k. Wiener Regimentskapelle IR4 during the parade.
The Changxing Lotus Dragon Company from China marches together with other orchestras, which are involved in the Spasskaya Tower festival, along Moscow’s streets.
The Spasskaya Tower festival involves guard of honor units welcoming national leaders and the world’s leading military bands. Photo: Soldiers from the European Crossed Swords Pipes & Drums Orchestra.
The 2012 festival is dedicated to the Russian victory in the Patriotic War of 1812 against Napoleon. Its themes include a grand Russian ball, the fiery wheel of war, the triumph of victory and peace acquired for all of Europe. Photo: Soldiers from the Singapore Armed Forces Central Band.
Cadets from the Moscow-based Suvorov Military Musical School; the Combined Orchestra of the Moscow Military Garrison; the Central Military Band of the Defense Ministry and the Presidential Orchestra will perform during the eight-day festival.
The Combined Orchestra of the Moscow Military Garrison during the opening ceremony of the International Military Music Festival Spasskaya Tower on Red Square.
Apart from Russian participants, the festival involves orchestras from Austria, Germany, Greece, Italy, Kazakhstan, the People’s Republic of China, Poland, France …
… As well as the European Crossed Swords Pipes & Drums Orchestra, which represents the entire European Union.
The 2012 Spasskaya Tower festival involves musicians from Singapore for the first time. In an effort to make their performance more impressive and memorable, the orchestra brought “reinforcements” comprising a musical drama company and a military platoon.
The festival’s guests will be able to watch the performances of the Cavalry Guard of Honor of the Presidential Regiment of the Service of the Moscow Kremlin’s Commandant of the Federal Bodyguards Service on Red Square.
The peacekeeping mission of the festival, which encompasses national traditions of various states and continents, helps popularize national military ceremonies. Photo: Members of the Polish Armed Forces Representative Band and Guard of Honor Company.
French singer Mireille Mathieu has been the festival’s guest of honor for several years.
The Metz Tank Army and Cavalry Corps Band.
The Changxing Lotus Dragon Folk-Art Company from China.
The Carabinieri Band from Italy during the opening ceremony of the Spasskaya Tower Festival.
