Spasskaya Bashnya

The show is a contest between the most valiant military bands, and the prize is the affection of the pulbic, who will be watching the event in Red Square.

Honor Guard units and bands from 9 countries will participate in the Spasskaya Bashnya this year, including:

• Band, bagpipes and drums of the Corps of Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers – a top subdivision of the British Army;

• Band and Honor Guard of the French Republican Guard – this subdivision was established by Napoleon. The band will accompany Mireille Mathieu, a singer much loved in Russia;

• North Finland Military Band – the most northern group out of all EU countries;

• Students of the Shaolin Monastery Marshall Arts School – followers of the ancient Wushu tradition;

• Italian Army Band – Famous composer Pietro Mascagni was the one to give the band its first serious exam; Indian Army Supreme Command Band - always participates in the international Military Tattoo;

• Israel Defense Forces Band – it is as old as the state of Israel;

• Band and Honor Guard of the Republican Guard of Kazakhstan – these are the best special forces units in Central Asia.

Russia will be represented at this international event by the Special Guard of the Presidential Regiment - the internationally renowned Presidential Band – the Central Military Band of the Defense Ministry, the Central Concert Exemplary Rimsky-Korsakov Navy Band, and a dozen other top Russian bands.

Besides the individual programs of all the musical bands, the audience will be able to enjoy a performance by a joint band, formed from all participating countries. The program will feature many pleasant surprises – an unusual mix of folk melodies and Beatles songs, video-installations on the Kremlin wall, dance shows, historic presentations, grand fire-works and abundant special technical displays.

The international military music festival Spasskaya Bashnya promises to become a major cultural event. Viewers will witness performances of more than a thousand military musicians.

On August 20th an exhibit promoting the festival will open in GUM (State Department Store). And on September 6th, the day after the opening ceremony, a charity concert by famous Russian classical musicians and young talents will take place (Spasskaya Tower, Stars to Light New Stars).

Famous opera singer Anna Netrebko will be among the participants.

Event organizers say that 5,000 out of 35,000 tickets will be distributed among low income social groups – people with disabilities, large families, war veterans. Some of the tickets will also be given to children’s organizations through a social program, headed by Ludmilla Shvetsova, Moscow’s Deputy Mayor.
Spasskaya Bashnya will become an annual event, and its repertoire will draw from significant events in the country’s war history. The date chosen for 2009 is the 300th anniversary of the famous Battle of Poltava.

This festival has been approved by the Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, and the Moscow government is among the supporters. Organizers see it as their main goal to nurture civic identity, popularize state symbols and ceremonies, promote the Army’s image in society and strengthen cultural ties between participating countries.

The Event’s Social Council is headed by the Deputy Chair of the Russian Government, Aleksandr Zhukov.

The musical director of the festival is Major General Valery Khalilov, head of the military band service of the Russian Defense Ministry, and honored arts worker.

The Guild of Kremlin Suppliers is coordinating the project.

For additional information, event program and press accreditation go to:
www.kremlin-military-tattoo.ru

phone: 007 - 495 - 917-8507 – Svetlana Zlochevskaya, Vera Lursmanashvili or email: mail@gip-r.ru