Yesterday a Dutch Navy destroyer brought to Petersburg a coffin with the remains of Empress Maria Feodorovna. It was exactly 140 years to the day when she, as the Princess Dagmar, first set foot on Russian soil.

The mourning ceremonies will take three days. Tomorrow, in the Cathedral of Christ's Resurrection, choirs from both Petersburg and Copenhagen will sing. And today the favourite music of the Empress was played in the Academic Capella Hall. 

The Danish Royal Life-Guard Regiment Band and the band of the Leningrad Naval Base (the Admiralty Navy Band) performed their "Musical Tribute to the Russian Empress". But before that - a long rehearsal. Glinka, Bortnyansky, Strauss and an Overture on the Danish anthem - the very music that was played 140 years ago when Princess Dagmar first came to Petersburg. 

The two Bands wanted to have a joint concert long ago, but it became possible only yesterday. By the way, the Danish military band is the oldest in the world, it was founded in 1658 by Frederick III. That is why the musicians know very well the most favored music of monarchs.

On September 28th, the musicians of two Bands will play together again at the Memorial Ceremony.