Going ashore: graduates met the brig Rossiya and heard the Katyusha volleys

A symphony orchestra on stage, volleys of historical Katyusha rockets from the Troitsky Bridge, a ten-meter Firebird and a full 360—degree turn of the brig Rossiya - all this was seen by graduates in St. Petersburg at the Scarlet Sails festival. In 2025, about 500 children from Abkhazia and the CIS countries, as well as Cuba, Venezuela, Vietnam and African countries joined our compatriots. The end—to-end theme of the show was victory - not only given to us by our great ancestors 80 years ago, but also one that every yesterday's student will have to win in his own adult life. About how the grand celebration went — in the material of Izvestia.

They are twenty years old

This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the revival of the Scarlet Sails Alumni Celebration: in 2005, a beautiful tradition reappeared on the initiative of ROSSIYA Joint Stock Bank, the Government of St. Petersburg and Channel Five. The anniversary was celebrated on a grand scale. This was reflected not only in the technological aspects of the show, the splendor of the fireworks and the level of the invited stars, but also in the abundance of nonresident and foreign delegations of schoolchildren.

The Governor of St. Petersburg, Alexander Beglov, giving the official launch of the "Scarlet Sails", addressed the guys:

— St. Petersburg welcomes graduates from Belarus, Gagauzia, Abkhazia, our sister city of Mariupol, Vietnam, Africa, Venezuela, Cuba. Scarlet Sails is a celebration for graduates all over the world! And Russia gives you this holiday!

By the way, as in 2024, a fragment of the graduates' holiday in Mariupol was used in the live broadcast of "Scarlet Sails" - the twin cities' bond is stronger than ever. The main event of the graduation party in Mariupol was the passage of the yacht "Assol" across the Sea of Azov under scarlet sails.

But the main leitmotif of the evening was set by another anniversary date, which the governor recalled in his speech.

— St. Petersburg has another name: the hero city of Leningrad. Be worthy of it! — Alexander Beglov admonished the new generation.

The theme of victory, the heroic past and the need to live up to it today came up more than once during the concert. So, when Zara sang "You will come back," on the huge screens behind her, the constellations formed into images of Russian heroes, from Peter the Great to the participants of the SVO, and it was clear: This is a heartfelt appeal to those who are currently at the front.

And Vadim Samoilov, the founder and leader of the Agatha Christie group, prefaced his speech with words about the current defenders of the Fatherland.

— There, behind the ribbon, your dads, uncles, and brothers are doing hard work so that you and I can continue to live. We send greetings to the men who defend our homeland. We respect you guys! We believe in you! We don't leave our people in the war! God bless you!" the musician exclaimed, preparing to perform his hits.

Windows and birds

The emotional culmination of the concert on Dvortsovaya Street was a number dedicated to the lifting of the siege of Leningrad and the 80th anniversary of the Great Victory. The symphony Orchestra conducted by Nikola Melnikov performed a composition composed of fragments of Shostakovich's Seventh Symphony, and at that moment the stage turned into a huge window, crisscrossed with strips of white cloth. A tragic chronicle of the war was played on the screens, and the virtual background in the form of many windows surprisingly rhymed with the real windows of the General Staff, in front of which the performance unfolded.

And if the theme of the Great Patriotic War turned out to be the ideological core of the holiday, then the image of the window is visual and symbolic. The stage itself consisted of three doors, one of which was really empty inside and opened a view of the facade of the building. Here we can talk about a window into the world, a window into the future, a window of opportunity. And during the course of the show, all these motives were repeatedly voiced. By the way, one of the most spectacular moments was the illusion of transparency of the screens, on which the image of the General Staff was combined with virtual multicolored balls, as if flying out of its arch.

Among other scenic surprises that amazed even the regulars of expensive shows were movable props in the form of a Firebird flapping its wings for several meters and pools right on the stage: water theater artists performed in them during concert performances.

The musical component of the concert on Dvortsovaya Street was no less impressive. Every year, the organizers invite the most relevant, sought-after, and beloved stars to perform at the Scarlet Sails. So this year, from the very first melodies of the band 5th MORNING and AKMAL', who took over the baton from her, it became clear that the choice of the performer was right again. The musicians were able to fully enjoy the love of the audience.

— Amazing feeling, a sense of celebration! I've finally closed my gestalt. I went to my graduation. It may not be mine anymore, but to be a part of this celebration is a great happiness," admitted AKMAL’ after his performance.

The hope of a generation

But the real fun started when Nadezhda Kadysheva came on stage. The palace was shaken by a cry of delight, and the graduates began to dance to the "Wide River."

Perhaps everyone has heard about the phenomenon of Kadysheva's popularity among young people this year. But when tens of thousands of schoolchildren start singing "The Wreath is Floating" and "The Witch" in unison, you realize that this is really not an exaggeration.

Before the start of the concert, Izvestia talked with several groups of graduates on Dvortsovaya Street — and all the guys admitted as one: they really want to hear Kadysheva. The guests from the DPR were no exception. They didn't hide their delight at the event as a whole.

— Very bright, very comfortable, insanely cool atmosphere. It's clear that everyone is trying madly, it's great how they accompany us. A lot of emotions. Yes, it's a wonderful event. I just want to dance, sing, and sing along," the guys from Donetsk School No. 82 enthused.

The appearance of "Ivanushki International" also caused genuine joy among the audience. Moreover, their "Doll" with the lines "It's just that the children have grown older / It's just that we've all grown up" sounded so touching and relevant at the graduation party. Well, where without the "Clouds" — and only in the song. The sky over Dvortsovaya remained clear throughout the concert.

Perhaps the main feature of the musical repertoire of the show on Dvortsovaya Street this year is that times and generations have joined here. The same Kadysheva was listened to by the grandparents of graduates, Vadim Samoilov and Ivanushka's parents... And Shostakovich's Leningrad Symphony and the final "Beautiful Far Away" concert are eternal music.

Festive volleys

Already in the final part of "Scarlet Sails", the continuity of the epochs was demonstrated with all its artistic power with a grandiose water and pyrotechnic show. The heroes of the theatrical performances were a graduate and a graduate who entered different eras through a portal door: for example, they found themselves in Leningrad on the night of May 9, 1945, where they heard Levitan's voice announcing victory over Nazi Germany.

And at that moment, volleys of real combat Katyusha rockets rang out from the Troitsky Bridge. 200 charges thundered in the sky — a 40-second salvo was fired in honor of the Great Victory. And then 120 more charges flew into the sky!

One of the rocket launchers that was delivered to the city center specifically for the Scarlet Sails is a unique museum exhibit that has been preserved since the Great Patriotic War. The Lenreserv patriotic association carefully preserves the car, maintaining it in decent condition.

There has never been such a graduation celebration in the history! But the surprises didn't end there either. A real gift to the graduates who gathered on the embankments and made a wish during the passage of the Brig Rossiya was the 360-degree turn of the sailboat. The ship's crew executed this most complex element with jewelry precision, thanks to which the guys were able to examine the symbol of the "Scarlet Sails" from all sides.

This year, the brig followed a new route, starting at the Senate Square, entering the open gate of the Palace Bridge, following along the Palace Embankment towards the Troitsky Bridge, and then in the opposite direction. In addition, his sails were decorated with a projection. Meanwhile, the sky was bursting with fireworks of incredible beauty.

And unfortunately, as soon as the ship disappeared from sight, it began to rain, dutifully waiting for the end of the holiday. However, the graduates returning home and chanting: "Russia!", were so inspired by what they saw and heard that the changed weather could not spoil their mood. On the contrary: walking along the Neva Embankment in the summer rain after a grand graduation is a real romance! And the most beautiful beginning of adulthood.