A Russian Ball at the Winter Palace

The beginning of the last century. The Silver Age. St. Petersburg. The youngest European capital is getting richer and prettier. Architecture, the sciences, and art are flourishing. But, like its dazzling palaces, the city has both a ceremonial façade and hidden “black staircases.” In a prosperous city, crime grows quickly. And now the investigative police of St. Petersburg is a powerful political force.

Winter of 1903. The old chief of the investigation—an honest career servant—is about to retire due to illness. Who will take his place? The slick careerist and bribe-taker Klopovsky, or the knight of duty and honor Lipov? Who will protect the fragile beauty of the old world and stand against the challenges of the cruel and predatory new 20th century that has just begun?

4th series. The Russian Ball in the Winter Palace

In St. Petersburg, at Mars Field, there is a wide Maslenitsa celebration—sledding hills, pancakes, clowns, and merriment. The common people party to their heart’s content. And all of the Empire’s high society will be in the Winter Palace today. Here a grand Russian ball will take place, where the royal family and courtiers will appear in ancient Russian costumes—brocade, gold, furs. Loyalty to national traditions. However, the SRs see loyalty to traditions differently and are preparing to drown the ball in blood. In the hands of the head of the investigation, Lipov, there is a thread with which he may—perhaps—manage to unwind this terrible tangle.

The production team included:

Yury Elifteryev — Composer and Sound Engineer

Sergey Mardar — Narrator, Shiryaev, Oboleshchov, Tulupov, Agent.

Andrey Tenetko — The caretaker Varen’nikov, Radyshchev, Vsevolozhsky, Suvalkin, Seller of “Gammond” typewriters.

Gennady Smirnov — Lipov, Stetsinsky, Seller of “Underwood” typewriters, Puzyrenko, Bednyagin, Clerk, Constable, Coachman.

Mikhail Chernyak — Klopovsky, Yurovskikh, Krestovozdvizhensky, City Governor Kleigels, Detective agent Afanasyev, Volodya Lipov, Seller of “Remingoton” typewriters, Constable Abashkin, Zheltakov, Baron Gyubber, Guard of a brothel.

Tatyana Kolganova — Nadezhda Arkadyevna, Varya Lipova, Owner of a brothel, Wife of Grechikha.

Lilian Navrozashvili — Viola, Dun’ka, Mavra, Grusha, Young lady-operator, Cook in the Puzyrenko house.