The Israeli Defense Forces' orchestra is currently attending an international festival for military orchestras held in the Red Square in Russia's capital. Delegations from around the world are taking part in the festival, including France, Britain, China and Italy.
IDF's orchestra in the Red Square (Photo: Benny Goldstein)
"Responses in Russia were very enthusiastic," said Major Oded Nahari, head of the General Staff Ceremonies Department. "The Russian audience will see us in the coming week until Thursday, when the closing ceremony will take place at the attendance of Russian President Dmitry Medvedev," he said.
The Israeli orchestra
is presided over by Lieutenant Colonel Michael Yaaran who prepared an Israeli and international repertoire for the festival.
'Close friends from Israel' (Photo: Benny Goldstein)
Major Nahari said that the Israeli orchestra was invited to Russia by the country's Defense Ministry. Israel's embassy in Moscow and the Keren Hayesod Foundation Fund are acting as sponsors.
Ilana Strein, the cultural attaché at the Israeli Embassy said, "When they came on they were called 'our close friends from Israel'."
Stein also related that the crowd went mad during "Hava Nagila" and added that in comparison with the other orchestras the IDF's has the most women.
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