Palace Guards Orchestra invited to perform at Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival in Moscow

© Direction de la Communication - Michael Alesi

At the Louis II Stadium this morning, the Palace Guards Orchestra, conducted by Olivier Drean, rehearsed, one final time, the musical programme conceived especially for the Spasskaya Tower International Military Music Festival, in which the Orchestra will take part on Red Square in Moscow from 24 August to 2 September.

First held in 2007, the Festival showcases military orchestras and brass bands. Originally, only orchestras from the various branches of the Russian military were involved, but since 2014, foreign orchestras have been invited to take part.

This year’s guests include Russian military orchestras representing the Navy, the Ministry of Defence and the Preobrazhensky Regiment, as well as the Orchestra of the Royal Guard of the Sultanate of Oman and the Sri Lanka Military Orchestra. The Festival will feature a total of 14 orchestras, seven of them from outside Russia.

The Palace Guards Orchestra will give 14 performances over 12 days in Moscow, before an audience of 8,500 people each evening, and will unveil its new set, based around the theme of “Changing the Guard”. The Orchestra will also perform at bandstands in Moscow’s parks and give a solo afternoon concert on Red Square.

The Festival’s name is a reference to the Kremlin tower topped by a clock which dominates Red Square.