Moscow is celebrating the 170th anniversary of Russian railroads and military bands are performing at the city's railway stations. The old tradition of open-air performances was re-born six years ago and has now become an annual occasion.

In Russian the word ‘railway station’, or ‘vokzal’, is a combination of two words– ‘vocal’ and ‘hall’, or ‘a hall for singing’. One of the oldest railways stations in St Petersburg, Pavlovsky railway station, was built for entertainment purposes. Many prominent Russian opera singers and musicians have performed there, Fyodor Shaliapin and an orchestra conducted by Johann Strauss among them.

“You cannot find a single railway station in Russia which does not honour the tradition of such concerts. Each city has orchestras, which annually organise musical festivals. And this is the kind of music everyone loves, the kind that comes from childhood,” said Valery Moskalev.

This year eight different orchestras are going from one railway station to another playing marches, classical compositions and Russian folk songs. For many it may seem an unusual venture but some still remember where the tradition came from.

“During WW2 each regiment had its own band. And while we were borading the  train, marches were played. It really raised soldiers' spirits and motivation,” commented Mikhail Mikhailov, WW2 veteran.

Post this story to del.icio.us