Russian orchestra plays Syria's ancient Palmyra theatre

An extraordinary scene unfoldedin the ancient city of Palmyra tonight.

The famous Russian Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra from St. Petersburg playeda concert in the city's Roman theatre only six weeks after ISIS was forced out of the historic Syrian site.

The assault on Palmyra started in early March, with Russian airstrikes followed up by Syrian ground troops who moved in to oust ISIS, ending the militant group's 10-month reign of terror over a town whose famed 2,000-year-old ruins once drew tens of thousands of visitors each year.

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Much of the Roman theatre, a UNESCO world heritagesite, remainsundamaged, butparts of it were blown up by ISIS militants.

Ambassadors from UNESCO, the United Nations' Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, have unanimously adopted a Russian motion to restore the historic parts of Palmyra that were damaged under ISIS occupation.

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CellistSergei Roldugin performed at the theatre, whichISIS used as a venue to conduct public executions during its occupation of Palmyra.Roldugin, a close friend of Russian President VladimirPutin, wasnamed in the Panama Papers.

Conducting the orchestra wasValeryGergiev, also a supporter of Putin's.

In opening remarks, Gergiev said that with the concert, "We protest against the barbarians who destroyed monuments of world culture."

There was also a video link-up in which Putin addressed the audience, saying he regardedthe concert "as a sign of gratitude, remembrance and hope."

Thursday's concert has echoes of a similar performance, also conducted by Gergiev, in August 2008, when the Mariinsky playedin front of the bombed-out parliament of the self-proclaimed Republic of South Ossetia after Russian forces defeated the Georgian army in a short war over the territory.