Orchestra performs in Palmyra

Putin calls concert by Russian musicians a sign of remembrance, gratitude and hope

Leading Russian musicians staged a classical concert on Thursday in the ancient theater of Syria's ravaged Palmyra in a show to herald Russia's successes against terrorists in the war-torn country.

Famed conductor Valery Gergiev led Saint Petersburg's celebrated Mariinsky orchestra through pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, Sergei Prokofiev and Rodion Shchedrin in front of a crowd of Russian soldiers, government ministers and journalists.