European military orchestras to take part in festival Spasskaya Tower in Moscow
MOSCOW. Aug 13 (Interfax) - Military musicians and representatives of honor guard units from several European countries will take part in the international military music festival Spasskaya Tower, which will be held on the Red Square in the period between August 30 and September 7, despite the Western sanctions.
Participants from Bulgaria, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Switzerland are expected to take part in the main program of the festival, the press and public relations center of the Russian Federal Protection Service said in a press release obtained by Interfax.
Sergei Khlebnikov, commandant of the Moscow Kremlin, earlier said the program of the festival would be adjusted over the sanctions because participants form three countries will not be able to come to Moscow.
"Unfortunately, we had to make some changes to the festival program due to the sanctions. Participants from three countries that previously said they were ready to come to Moscow have written us letters in which they apologize and ask us to understand the motives for which they have to refrain from visiting us," Khlebnikov said in an interview with Rossiyskaya Gazeta this week. He did not specify the countries that have refused to participate in the festival.
In the meantime, the festival press center said five European countries will send their representatives to Moscow. "The said European countries have confirmed that they will participate in the festival," the press center said.
Orchestras from Armenia, Kazakhstan, China, Mexico, Turkey, and Russia will also participate in the festival. Eleven countries will be represented at the festival (13 countries were represented in it last year).
A special guard company of the presidential regiment, the Honored Horse Escort of the presidential regimen, and the Presidential Orchestra will traditionally participate in the festival.
A joint team of the Kremlin Horse Riding School and the Honored Horse Escort will present a joint trick riding program.
"This year, festival participants will make a traditional gift to Muscovites and guests of Moscow: a musical march on Tverskaya Street will take place on September 6 and performances will be held in Moscow parks on September 7," the press release says.
The beginning of WWI, whose anniversary is marked this year, will be addressed in the prologue of the festival, the organizers said
Each day of the program is expected to end with a combined orchestra, which will perform a quodlibet of music compositions. A 3D show and a salute will take place every evening of the program, the organizers said.
French singer Mireille Mathieu will take part in the festival for the sixth time (she is working on a special program for the festival), the document says.
Among the guests at the festival, famous French horseman Lorenzo will perform in the riding hall set up on the square near the tribunes, the press release says.