Moscow hosted the traditional International Military Music Festival "Spasskaya Tower". The current festival has become a jubilee, the tenth, which, of course, was noted in the speeches of the participants. Russian President Vladimir Putin sent his greetings to the participants and organizers of the festival. It was published on the website of the festival. Putin noted the importance of the event and expressed confidence that the festival will be held at a high level.
Participants of the festival gave the Muscovites a real holiday - bright and unforgettable. What was worth the action "Music at the stations", when the five railway stations of the capital were military bands. At the Kazan station the Mehter orchestra of the Armed Forces of Turkey performed, the exemplary orchestra of the Ministry of Defense of Uzbekistan, the Celtic Band of Bagpipes and Drums in the Belorussian, the Yaroslavl Orchestra of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Armenia, the Egyptian Military Symphony Orchestra performed at the Paveletskiy station. The very opportunity to hear the performance of the teams of this level is already a great success. These are orchestras with an extensive and diverse repertoire, consisting of high-level musicians. And the orchestras in the military uniform of their countries, which also adds color.
On August 28, the French singer Mireille Mathieu completed her performances at the festival, which for many years was a real mascot of the festival. The singer did not stop even the bad weather. Spectators enthusiastically greeted their favorite on August 25 during the opening of the festival on Red Square. One of Mireille Mathieu's songs was dedicated to the first musical director of the Festival, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Lieutenant-General Valery Khalilov, who died on December 25, 2016. The composition "Eternal Love" was sounded in memory of this remarkable man and an outstanding musician. And a duet with Zara was performed by the song "Under the sky of Paris", familiar to everyone, and the singer and capella performed "The Black Eyes".
Festival events pleased Muscovites and guests of the capital until the third August. And on August 3, the final parade took place, when 1,500 musicians from 12 countries marched along Red Square.
Performed by teams from Austria, Armenia, Belarus, Egypt, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Switzerland, as well as the Union Pipe Orchestra of the European Union and an international dance group. It was not just a music festival, it was a great show. Sounded music of great masters, military marches and compositions from the musical accompaniment to films and cartoons that are familiar to everyone, and are loved by everyone from childhood. The event was broadcast by the central television on the air. The festival ended with a passage through the cobbles of all participants of the festival and the performance of the march "Farewell of the Slav".