Music festival «Ambassadorial Gifts» is being held in The Moscow Kremlin Museums in the period from September, 24th to November, 11th within a cross-cultural collaborative programme to mark the Year of British culture in Russia. Famous musicians from Great Britain and Russian Federation will perform remarkable Russian and English pieces of music to present their own vision of musical traditions of both countries.

The festival is to be opened by the Tallis Scolars — a famous British vocal group (artistic director and general conductor — Peter Phillips) which has recently celebrated its 40 years anniversary. Representatives of Russia at the festival are the Moscow Chamber Orchestra «Musica Viva» (artistic director and general conductor Alexander Rudin), the Choir «Intrada» (artistic director and general conductor Ekaterina Antonenko), the soloists of the choir of the Moscow Sretensky monastery, countertenor Rustam Yavaev and other musicians.

The programme of the festival incorporates European church music of the XVth — XXth centuries, sacred music created by Russian composers of the XVIIth — XIXth centuries, secular music by English composers of the XVIth — XVIIIth centuries and the music composed by Thomas Linley for the Shakespeare's tragedy «The Tempest» (the 450th anniversary of this distinguished playwright is also celebrated in the year of 2014).

Diplomatic relations between Great Britain and Russia have been developed for more than 450 years and during that period variety of precious gifts have been delivered by British ambassadors to Russian sovereigns. Nowadays these masterpieces by foreign craftsmen of the XVIth – XVIIth centuries are exposed in the Armoury Chamber collection.

The sponsors of the festival «Ambassadorial Gifts»: SNS Group of Companies and Nestlé Russia.

Informational support is provided by the British Council in Russia, the Russo-British Chamber of Commerce,the Rossiyskaya Gazeta, the «Orfeus» – classical music radio, Russia Today TV Channel, Belcanto.ru — the leading web-portal of classical music, opera and ballet in Russia.