In 2024, the Moscow Kremlin Museums will host the X Music Festival "Ambassadorial Gifts" to coincide with the large-scale exhibition project "The Legacy of Peter the Great and Coups d'Etat in the Russian Empire".

In 1724, Empress Ekaterina Alexeyevna, the wife of Peter the Great, was crowned. In 1722, by decree of the monarch, the order of succession to the throne in Russia was changed: the tradition of passing power from father to son was abolished. Following the era of Peter the Great, Russian history of the 18th century focuses on the three remarkable reigns of Russian Empresses who ascended the throne supported by the Imperial Guard.

Each of the empresses made a significant contribution to the development of Russian musical culture. The birth of opera in Russia is linked to the arrival of an Italian opera company at the court of Empress Anna Ioannovna. During the reign of Elizaveta Petrovna more than thirty operas were performed, including the first Russian opera based on the poems of A.P. Sumarokov. Catherine II not only patronised the arts, but also wrote librettos herself. The Empress also encouraged Russian composers, and by the end of the 18th century Russia had a national school of composers. 

The festival will be opened on 18 October with the programme "The Guard is the Priority" performed by one of the best formations in this direction - the Central Military Band of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation conducted by the Honoured Artist of Russia - Sergey Durygin.

The concert on 22 October will be dedicated to the works of Western European composers of the Enlightenment.  Especially for this evening AXL Academy EARLYMUSIC and the famous ensemble "Soloists of Catherine the Great" headed by the legendary Andrey Reshetin (violin) have gathered the compositions under the common name "Imperial Grandchildren of Alexey Mikhailovich. Secular Music of the 18th century".

The festival will conclude with the concert "Golden Age of Catherine. Music" featuring chamber pieces by Russian composers of the second half of the 18th century performed by our debutants - the all-women chamber ensemble "Inverse Perspective" conducted by Ekaterina Dryazzhina (baroque flute).

We look forward to seeing you at our concerts. Tickets are on sale.

Sponsor of the Festival - Pepeliaev Group LLC