Month: September 2026

← Read December, 1841 | To be continued → Begun around May 1, 1841, at her parents' estate of Paslep, completed around March 1, 1842, in St. Petersburg *. The discoverer of this document and the author of the detailed commentary on the text is the historian Sergei Gavrilov January 1842 * Hover over the bold text to view the commentary. On mobile devices, press and hold your finger on the highlighted text while reading the commentary, then release. 1st Thursday. And so, a new year has begun again. What awaits us this year, we do not know; joy or sorrow, it is hidden in darkness before us. Ah, in one year much, very much can change; at this thought a great fear seizes my whole heart, and I can only exclaim: may the Lord be with me and with all my very near, for if Jesus is here, within us, what can be against us! May Jesus deign with this new year to enter anew into our hearts and remain with us, so that we may daily grow closer to Him and be able to remain with Him. Ah, if only everything would one day become different with me, that I would with earnestness, with all earnestness, strive for the One, True thing that is needful (das Noththut), oh, dear, dear Jesus. Come, Savior, help me by Thy grace, help us in all things, whatever may meet us this year! Lord, preserve for me my dear parents, my beloved sisters, and, if possible, all who are close to us on this lovely earth; have mercy on all the poor and be with everyone according to Thy grace - oh Jesus, very near, dear Father. Although I was quite unwell, and there were 21 degrees of frost (Kälte), I decided to stay home, although Grandmamma very insistently asked me to come to her. But I thought that this was probably the last New Year I would begin together with dear old Grandpapa and Grandmamma, and decided after breakfast to ride there together with Aunt Louisa, who was going with congratulations . It seemed dear Grandmamma was very pleased by this; we chatted quite a lot, I wrote a letter to Helene there, and then changed my dress right there. For dinner there were: Ivan And, Annette, A Jette Ovander with her two sons, Mr. Krüger, Mr. Behling, my , Madame Neukirchen (Neidhard) with her husband. After the meal everyone sat down at the card table; Grandmamma, Jette, Minna, and I did needlework. Shortly before tea a few little mummers in masks (kleine Masken) entered, and I soon recognized Lola and Betty: the former as a boy, the latter - as an old woman. They stayed there for a quarter of an hour and left again for a certain Madame Wilzien's. At 10 o'clock I departed and found Robert here; both Grünewaldts and both Knorrings were here for dinner. 2nd, Friday. In the morning I was in a great hurry my letters, almost dispatch . 3rd, Saturday. I still had a very bad cold. For tea Prittwitz and Stenger were here; the ladies departed to a ball at the Khitrovos'; Louisa was dressed very simply, but sweetly. After they left, we worked diligently on the dress that had been handed over to me, which we had cut out in the morning; Grandpapa was here in the morning. Sunday, 4th. In the morning I sewed and read a very great deal, laughed with Louisa and Helene; before breakfast I practiced ; after breakfast we went for a walk. For dinner Grandmamma and Aunt Minna were here. Monday, 5th. In the morning I practiced and wrote in my diary, – we took our usual walk; I wrote a letter to Tamburini, whom I had been impatiently expecting for several days. Namely, a small dinner party (dîner) for the Dyakovs, the General's wife Richter, her Natalie and two sons, Madame Klüpfel, and the handsome Count Nicolas Toll (der hübsche Graf Nicolas Toll). I put on my light silk dress and a new collar, but how great was our astonishment when we were sitting in the study, and some were already with us, when suddenly Stenger entered uninvited (ungebeten); this is truly remarkable insolence (merkwürdige Courage) — to burst into any society like this ; unfortunately, he ended up being my neighbor at the table, but he entertained me quite well. After the meal we went to the hall; first we played with Otto and little Yazykova, to amuse ourselves, young Toll also took part in this: he is the most charming person, and in a few is to the Chevalier Guard . We made a little music, I sang una voce, and after much persuasion Woldemar Dyakov sat down at the clavier. He is a very handsome youth, a blond, with very well-bred (distinguirte) facial features; he has an extraordinarily beautiful voice, but he sang little, and did not bring a single piece to a proper conclusion. Dyakov and Toll left before tea; the rest stayed until 11 o'clock. We did needlework; it was quite a pleasant evening. Boris Richter is very amusing and also possesses a quite great intellect. The beginning of the new year brings to the diary both serious reflections and Yuletide amusements: a game of cards is interrupted by mumming children running into the drawing room. The capital's high-society life runs its course, occasionally surprising with breaches of etiquette: an impudent, yet quite entertaining gentleman shows up at an elegant dinner party without any invitation whatsoever. Evenings at her aunt's house turn into exquisite musical salons, where Sophie brilliantly performs an aria from "The Barber of Seville" to accompaniment, and the charming young Count Toll, a future Chevalier Guard, tossing aside society pretense, fools around on the carpet with the children. ← Read December, 1841 | To be continued → Begun around May 1, 1841, at her parents' estate of Paslep, completed around March 1, 1842, in St. Petersburg *. The discoverer of this document and the author of the detailed commentary on the text is the historian Sergei Gavrilov January 1842 * Hover over the bold text to view the commentary. On mobile devices, press and hold your finger on the highlighted text while reading the commentary, then release. 6th, Tuesday. Immediately after coffee, Aunt Louisa and Louisa dressed to go to the baisemain (hand-kissing) at Court; there was a grand reception (cour), which had been canceled on New Year's Day due to the Empress's indisposition. After they departed, I read a quite beautiful sermon by Hofacker. We breakfasted, the three of us (en trois), with Uncle Pontus, who was still unwell, and with the Fräulein; soon after this the ladies returned home, and we went for a walk. I was very surprised neither an answer nor to see Tamburini himself; I was very angry with him and already completely despaired that he would come. In the evening we were alone. 7th, Wednesday. In the morning I wrote home to Mama and Louisa. In vain I again expected Tamburini; after breakfast I practiced. As the governess was here on this day, I waited until 3 o'clock, went for a walk with Fräulein Rüdiger. We dined earlier, as the court ball (Hofball), which was to take place on this day, was scheduled for 8 o'clock. Louisa was in pink crepe, with a garland of roses and violets and with a diamond comb — very beautiful and advantageous. After they departed, we again sat down to our work, chatted and laughed, especially when Fräul. Rüdiger was making tea; Konstantin stayed with us until past eleven; amiable Carl also returned home for tea; we were all very sprightly. After we had already undressed, F Rüdiger sang "Grâce" from "Robert" with great tension and gestures; Helene also came to us there, and only at 11 o'clock did we lie down. In bed we still talked rather a lot about marriage in general. I heard the ladies return home. Aunt Louisa wrote a letter to Tamburini. 8th, Thursday. I rose before 8 o'clock, and even before 9 o'clock Tamburini was with me; however angry I was with him, I could no longer when he brought me his apologies, which, perhaps, were quite empty. We cleared the air and made peace after we shook hands; I wrote very diligently until the meal. Then we went the drill (SIC! written in Russian 'uchenie' - S.G.), Grünewaldt commanded , but the pleasure lasted a very short time. Aunt Louisa proposed that Helene and I go for a ride, which we gladly accepted, as I needed fabric (Zeug), and I wished to prepare the work for a cigar case (porte cigarre). We returned home shortly after four; the air was unwelcoming and damp. Madame Meybaum was here all day; Grandpapa and Grandmamma and Aunt Minna came for dinner; the latter was in a bad mood because I had not been to see her this week. After the meal we made music; the flügel-adjutant, who came to see Uncle, chased us away; soon after that Aunt Jette arrived, in the evening we did needlework, and Madame Mey sang a little; after tea they departed. Carl was quite especially amiable. 9th, Friday. Natalya Andreevna Petrovo-Solovovo, née Gagarina (1846). Portrait in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum In the morning I wrote very diligently and dispatched my letters to the post. Then I practiced very much and diligently. Walked with Helene and Fräul. R. , we dropped into a confectionery to buy some sweets for the throat, and also bought almond cookies (Mandelbrot). Then we went to a certain man so that he to the club. For dinner Woldemar Knor was here. After the meal we were interrupted in our musical hour by Madame Salavoy (Salavoi), who sat with Uncle Pontus, and then for quite a long time in Aunt Louisa's study: very swarthy , thin, a long nose with a hump, a strong mustache (starker Bartenbart / ladies' mustache), her features are undoubtedly beautiful, but overall unpleasant and unbeautiful. For tea we had General Grünewaldt, who was quite saddened on account of his mother, or rather, worried. After he left, we stayed up for quite a long time waiting for Carl, who had been to the French Theatre and told us quite a lot. Saturday, 10th. In the morning I wrote diligently in my diary, then began to sew my cigar case (porte cigarre). And I received letters from Paslep; Helene, unfortunately, was unwell, Henrietta Knor was there for New Year's. Papa, Fanny, and Louisa were in Vihterpalu (Wiehterpal). I was glad that Margaretha was with them; she is a very pleasant guest. After breakfast I rode with Louisa to go shopping; I bought canvas (Canevas) and wool (Wollen) to embroider (brodiren) a piece for Louisa . For dinner here were: the General's wife Strandmann with her husband, General Klüpfel, and General Prittwitz, entirely in a narrow circle (en petite comité); after the meal we went to the hall, made a little music, then conversed for quite a long time; she is a most charming woman, extraordinarily beautiful; then we worked some more. General Strandmann was in a great hurry, wished to leave that very evening, and they left even before tea; Prittwitz and Klüpfel stayed rather a long time and recounted quite a lot and pleasantly; after tea we again made a little music. It was a very pleasant evening. The following excerpt of the diary reminds us that the high-society life of St. Petersburg is full of strict rituals and domestic passions: while the older female relatives head to the Winter Palace for the official hand-kissing ceremony, the young people organize their own nocturnal concerts. Having already undressed for sleep, the young ladies belt out complex operatic arias and share secrets in bed about marriage until midnight. Sophie's relationship with Maestro Tamburini resembles a theatrical drama with offenses, angry letters, and a swift reconciliation, while the heroine's sharp tongue spares no society guests. One of the visitors receives a ruthless characterization. In the intervals between receiving talkative generals and cozy evenings at home, the girls rush to fashionable shops for cough drops and materials to embroider an elegant cigar case. 11th, Sunday. : 11th / I waited in vain for Tamburini in the morning, but he wrote to me that he would like to come tomorrow at 1 o'clock. Immediately after coffee, Helene, Annette, and I went to church. Moritz read a quite beautiful sermon on the text about how the Mother of God lost Jesus, and he spoke of how easily one can lose Christ from one's heart, and how and where to find Him again; this sermon touched me quite deeply. – I waited for Tamburini, but again in vain; I do not understand the reason for this; it is terribly unpleasant for me to lose so much time. – After breakfast Aunt Louisa went to pay visits, Louisa went for a walk, and I practiced ; for dinner we were alone. – After the meal Louisa and Carl played; the young ladies (Demoiselles) and Fräul. Rüdiger — we did needlework in the hall; then Louisa and Carl began to do terrible silly things , and we all laughed to the point of exhaustion, then we went to work. Soon after this General Vietinghoff arrived with his wife, and then Lyubov Klüpfel with Willy It was a very pleasant and merry evening; did needlework, then we sang for the Klüpfels. After the latter departed, I spoke with the General's wife, whom I like very much; she is a blonde, not beautiful, but very welcoming and pleasant, and undoubtedly very, very well-intentioned (recht gesinnt). She very much invited me to come and see her. She has an entirely foreign pronunciation and some peculiar expressions. – In the evening I had a toothache, and she was so kind as to send down some alcohol (Spiritus) to me, which helped me quite a lot. 12th, Monday. The air is beautiful, but very cold. In the morning I worked; at 11 o'clock Tamburini arrived, but I could not sing, I had a toothache, and I was a little hoarse; I truly have astonishing bad luck (guignon) with my singing lessons: either I cannot, or he is absent; it really often seems to me as if the Lord does not wish it. After breakfast the others went for a walk; I stayed at home and worked diligently on the piece I intend for Louisa's birthday; I also practiced a little. At 4 o'clock we dressed, and Louisa and I rode to Grandmamma's for dinner. Carl also came there; at the table we were very merry; we drank sweet wine to the health of all our dear ones. Grandpapa ordered almonds and raisins to be served; it seemed it was an immense joy for dear old Grandpapa and Grandmamma that we had come there. After the meal Uncle P arrived for an hour to speak with Grandpapa about business. Carl rode to the Richters', and so the four of us were left alone; we worked and conversed rather a lot. Grandmamma treated (traktirte) us to ice cream (Gefrohrenes) after tea. Louisa strummed (klingelte) a little with Grandpapa, for one cannot call it playing. After 10 o'clock we departed; it was a very, very pleasant evening, it was so cozy in the warm dining room. We felt so at ease (ungeniert) there; at home we merely whiled away the evening, and then each retired to their own rooms. Helene has a very, very bad cold. 13th, Tuesday. In the morning I had Tamburini, but I sang for only a quarter of an hour, as he declared that I was hoarse; he drank coffee with Louisa and me and left us, saying that he would come the next day. In the first half of the day I practiced some more; it was very cold. In the evening we were alone. 14th, Wednesday. In the morning I sewed diligently; after breakfast Aunt Louisa rode alone to the shops . It was very cold, so we stayed home. I expected Tamburini, who, however, did not come. We were alone. After the meal, as usual, we made music and worked. 15th, Thursday. In the morning I wrote very diligently. For breakfast Sophie Rehbinder was here, who came from Grand Duchess Maria of Leuchtenberg to ask Aunt Louisa to take her with her to the Voronts that day. Fräul. Rüdiger went to her uncle Ochs . After this I went for a walk with Aunt Louisa to the Fontanka. For dinner Grandpapa and Grandmamma and Aunt Minna were here. Uncle P was not at home. Soon after the meal Tamburini arrived, and I took my singing lesson with immense joy; he was very entertaining, told me much about his youthful pranks (Jugendstreiche): how he received letters in a certain monastery in order to see a young girl from there, and a young man whom he presented as a Marquis... etc. It was a pleasant hour; afterwards Louisa and Helene joined us. Louisa was not entirely well then and suddenly decided not to go to the Vorontsovs', which was of course very unpleasant for Aunt Louisa, but Louisa stood her ground and stayed. Aunt Louisa rode there with Sophie , who was charming in pink tulle — a gift from the Grand Duchess. Grandpapa and Grandmamma stayed with us for another half hour, and then also departed. We stayed together until half past eleven, worked and laughed a great deal; Carl sang "La Sonnambula" (das Somnambula) in every possible way, while Otto had withdrawn even earlier. 16th, Friday. In the morning I finished my letters and sent them to the post, including one to Papa, who is in Revel , in which I ask him to come for me. After breakfast I rode with Louisa to the Klüpfels' to look at some things they from Paris, all sorts of embroidery (Broderien). I saw Marie Klüp for the first time; Loulou was not at home; Stenger played the master of the house. He offered them to us when we entered the room, where the old General's wife was sitting in an armchair (porte fauteuil). To take at least something, I took a collar, I found all the things very expensive. For dinner Mr. Federici and his spouse were here; he had a very noble physiognomy (nobele phisionomie), the wife is small and plump, at the same time quite sweet; they departed, however, even before tea. Behling arrived very late and gave his clavier lesson. Tamburini did not come. In the evening I thought much of my dear Mama; thank God for that great, great mercy, may He deign to preserve her for us for a very, very long time. On these pages, the capital's frosts and illnesses make their adjustments to the schedule, but St. Petersburg life remains rich and cozy. A touching family scene unfolds at Sunday dinner at Grandmamma's, where the guests are treated to sweet wine and an unprecedented winter dessert - ice cream - creating the atmosphere of warmth that Sophie had missed so much. Relations with her vocal teacher, Maestro Tamburini, are still full of surprises: one moment he fails to show up for lessons for weeks, citing his pupil's hoarseness, the next he unexpectedly stays for an extra hour, enthusiastically regaling the young ladies with spicy stories about his youthful pranks in an Italian monastery. And in the absence of the older relatives, the young people let loose: cousin Carl belts out arias from the fashionable opera "La Sonnambula" in every possible way, making everyone laugh until they cry. The society chronicle does not slumber either; we learn that the lady-in-waiting Sophie Rehbinder is heading to a ball at the Counts Vorontsov's in luxurious pink tulle, a gift to her from Grand Duchess Maria of Leuchtenberg herself. 17th, Saturday. Portrait of the young Baron's father from the Hermitage collection. In bed I prayed fervently for my dear, dear Mama; ah, may the Lord deign mercifully to hear my prayer for her. When I came down for coffee, a pretzel (Kringel) had been ordered in honor of my dear Mama; all the first half of the day I worked on a travel bag (Reisesack) for Louisa. While we were still sitting at breakfast, young Baron Pahlen (Baron Pahlen) arrived. The Pahlen estate of Palmse near Tallinn Then Madame Sukhozanet; Louisa and I went for a walk, met Madame Diekoff on the stairs, who was departing, and, having said goodbye, we reached the Fontanka and once again met Madame Dyakova before the front door. Scarcely had we gone upstairs when Madame Richter arrived. In short, it was one of those days of visitation (Heimsuchungs-Tagen), which I absolutely do not like. After this I rode with Aunt Louisa to Grandmamma's to congratulate her on her name day (Namenstage). She was alone, Minna had gone to Jette's, and both the old people were sitting at Ivan And's. We returned home late and I was in a great hurry to change my dress. Already since Thursday, when Aunt Louisa had to go to the ball alone, she had been silent and irritable (empfindlich) towards Louisa . Today, however, was the ball at the Khitrovos' (Louisa was to go there), and the mother was not, so it was decided that she would go with her father. Meanwhile, the Klüpfels had invited us to their home for the evening and for a musical soirée, but we stayed, as there was no carriage (Equipage). However, suddenly after the meal Uncle Pontus declared that he had no desire whatsoever to go to the ball and he wished to stay. This statement, thrown out just like that, pour parler , caused offense, especially on the part of Aunt Louisa, so that I felt quite wretched and wanted to cry. In short, after long conversations Louisa went to quickly change her dress, Uncle P took his pipe (Pfeife) and began to pace back and forth across the room. I still did not know who would actually go with her. In the end it turned out to be Uncle P. This evening passed here with a very heavy heart (gemüth sehr drückend), and I was glad when they departed. And yet after dinner we had still been so merry, romping about and dancing the galop so much. - Aunt Louisa read to us in the evening a quite sweet book, namely the question: "What do I still lack?", with an answer according to the Ten Commandments. It was quite beautiful. In the evening I thought very much of my dear, beloved Mama. I received letters from Paslep, which brought me a great deal of joy. Sunday, 18th. I rose early in the morning, as Aunt wished to go with us to Nielsen , in order to properly celebrate Mama's birthday there. The four of us drank coffee alone today, then departed. It was very cold. Nielsen had a superb sermon; he spoke on the text where Jesus was in the temple among the scribes, and about Jesus growing and taking form in us entirely . For dinner Grandmamma and Aunt Minna were here, and the former was very saddened, as she accidentally learned bad news about Pyotr And. She was very upset, and at the table her face was in tears. For tea General Klüpfel, Bese, and Stenger arrived. At first they chatted, and then, until they departed, they made music. Aunt Louisa was with Grandmamma in my room. After the meal I went with Aunt Minna into the hall, where we spoke of the sad news from Paslep and of Kursell — the favorite topic of conversation (lieblings Conversation) of my poor Grandpapa and Grandmamma. Monday, 19th. The weather is beautiful, but 15 degrees of frost. I remained at home this day, as I was unwell. In the morning I wrote in my diary, at 1 o'clock I took my singing lesson. My voice was very clear, and Tamburini promised to come again tomorrow together with Mr. Opochinin (Apalschenin), to sing a Rossini duet. After breakfast I worked and spoke with F Rüdiger about . – Then we dressed for dinner. The beautiful General's wife Strandmann with her two sweet daughters and Boris Richter dined with us. After the meal Netty sang; Carl departed, and we sat down to work, and spoke of this and that. Uncle P, however, has been strikingly serious and quiet for several days — actually, since Saturday. And so today too: soon after the meal he went to his room and smoked there; it is so striking to see him exactly like this. In the evening I spoke of this with Louisa and Jette B., and each expressed her astonishment to me regarding this. After tea the Strandmanns departed. – We stayed to work for another half hour. 20th, Tuesday. This morning I worked and practiced for more than an hour; while we were sitting at the table for breakfast, Arthur Knorring entered — it was a great joy for everyone. After breakfast Louisa rode to go for a walk with Const, Aunt Louisa rode to Grandmamma's, and I stayed at home because of my eyes and practiced a little more. We dressed early, as we went to eat already at half past 4, because Uncle Pontus to a meeting of the American Company (Amerikanische Compagnie Versammlung) on this day. After the meal Aunt Louisa read us a letter from the General's wife Grünewaldt, which informs her of the sad news of her mother's death! – We, however, at ease, and Carl fooled around, sang, and danced in his old manner. At 8 o'clock Tamburini arrived, but without Opochinin, who was on duty (de jour) that day; he sang very well. Later Louisa came up, and towards the end Aunt Louisa. Tamburini hurriedly told me that she was jealous, in order to secretly deliver another hidden barb (coup de patte) at me. – At 10 o'clock Louisa and Carl rode with their mother to a ball at the Sukhozanets' (Souchasonet), F Rüdiger and I chatted and worked until 11 o'clock. Society life and family dramas intertwine in a tight knot. Sophie continues to critically evaluate capital society. The domestic atmosphere heats up: Uncle Pontus drops careless remarks, bringing his niece to tears, and then plunges entirely into sullen silence, leaving on business for the Russian-American Company. The main intrigue, however, remains Sophie's relationship with her vocal teacher, the famous Tamburini. One moment the maestro fails to show up, driving the young woman to despair; the next they touchingly make peace, shaking hands. Against the backdrop of these passions, Sophie finds an outlet in cozy evenings at Grandmamma's with ice cream and boisterous home concerts, where cousin Carl enthusiastically belts out arias and fools around. 21st, Wednesday. At 10 o'clock Aunt Louisa called me to drink coffee in a narrow circle (en comité) in the hall, and we sat until 11 o'clock at the coffee table. Aunt Louisa told us about yesterday's ball, about Countess Branicka (Branitzka); Louisa was very much in fashion (en vogue) and amused herself extraordinarily. Then I was in my room and wrote; when the Grünewaldt gentlemen left, I practiced for an hour. After breakfast we unstitched the trimming (Besätze) from Louisa's pink crepe dress. Aunt Louisa and Louisa went out, and from 3 to 4 I again learned a new etude, so that I returned to my room completely exhausted. Arthur Knorring was with us for dinner; he is a quite handsome young man, with beautiful blue eyes, with an ugly mouth, and he laughs constantly. After the meal we made a little music – Arthur sang. The General's wife, Vietinghoff, sent for us, as a regimental band (Regiments Musik) was playing at her house; General Tourno (Tourno) with his wife and General Jackson (Jaxon). Arthur was there with us; after they had played a few pieces for us, went down . For tea Madame Pedzevich . They did needlework. The scene the Madame caused was astonishing: she accused us all of laughing too much. It was an impertinence (Impertinence) such as one can hardly imagine. After she left, it was still spoken of a great deal. 22nd, Thursday. A. A. Vasilyev. Portrait of Polyxena Rimskaya-Korsakova; 1846, State Tretyakov Gallery. The weather is quite fine; in the first half of the day I practiced. Arthur with us for breakfast, father paid a courtesy visit (machte gute Aufwartung); he has a quite peculiar face. I went with Aunt Louisa, Louisa, and F Rüd for a walk; when we returned home, we learned that the ball at the Beloselskys' (Beloselsky) was canceled, as Madame Poltoratskaya (Poltarzof), a distant relative of the Princess, had died; Aunt Louisa was perfectly content with this. For dinner, dear Grandpapa and Grandmamma, Aunt Minna, and Arthur Knor were here. After the meal we made music, and suddenly Tamburini entered with Opochinin (Apalschenin). First greeted us, then he went into the study to the others, and I sang etudes for half an hour. Then I went over to Opochinin (Apal:), and we sang a duet; under Tamburini's instruction, everything went well. When I sang it for the 2nd time, everyone entered the hall. After this, Opochinin sang several quite beautiful things, including Figaro's grand aria from "The Barber of Seville" and a buffa aria; he sang this absolutely extraordinarily beautifully. I also sang "Soave imagine" ; even F Rüdiger sang an aria, Tamburini accompanied her. The gentlemen hastened to withdraw, as they still wished to go to the Admiral's wife Korsakova's (Admiralin Corsakof). – Carl and Arthur went to the French Theatre; Grandpapa also left. I was very unwell all evening; I had such a severe fever (Fieber) and nausea (Uebelkeiten) that I was glad when Grandmamma departed, and I reached my bed. I was shivering (Frost) so much the whole time that my teeth chattered. The singing entertained me very, very much, and next I will again sing something with him. I wished to write to Mama again in the evening, but was too unwell for that. 23rd, Friday. The Myatlev House, modern view. 9 St. Isaac's Square / 2 Pochtamtskaya St. In the morning I wrote to Mama, and all in haste. Copied "The Banks of the Rhine" (Rheinstrand). – I had a very severe toothache, practiced a little. – Celestine Kaulbars (Kaulbars) wrote an invitation for tomorrow, and I too was among the invited. After breakfast Aunt and Louisa departed; first I practiced for an hour, then lay down, as I felt very unwell. – After the meal Stenger arrived; Louisa rode with her father and Arthur to the Myatlevs' (Miatlefs). Tamburini promised to come at half past 7, but did not come, for which I cannot blame him, as the weather was too stormy to make such a long journey. 24th, Saturday. In the morning all day I expected Papa; the weather was unpleasant, there was a thaw, and it was windy. In the morning I sewed at Aunt Jette's. After breakfast I went with Aunt for a little walk, and our conversation suddenly turned to K...... . She told me: she finds that I acted wrongly in not accepting him . I was very glad to hear this opinion from the lips of Aunt L. – For shortly before this I received letters from home in which Mama writes to me. – That she fears that K.., as soon as I return home, will resume his courtship (anbinden wird), and that I should speak of this with Aunt Louisa. I laughed very much at the expressions in Fanny's letter, in which she tells me that K.. is still terribly in love with me. – This is what is truly surprising: his aunt does not back down (läßt nicht ab); the relatives speak "in favor," except for my parents and myself. For if I had to tell the truth now, I would not want it all to start again, and yet I do not believe that it will not happen. This thought occupied me quite a bit today, but how comforting it is to me that Mama speaks so in her letter: the Lord will not abandon me; therefore I will cast this too upon Him. Why do I not wish to marry him (Ihn nicht nehmen)? There is no other reason than that there is something repulsive to me in imagining myself in a closer relationship with him! – Enough of this. – Today for dinner we had the large General Albrecht — a truly very ugly man, and not only that, but with a terribly unpleasant face; General Vietinghoff, and von Knorring from Lugden with Arthur. After the meal the gentlemen departed; we were all invited to the Rehbinders', but from us only Aunt and Louisa went for an hour to the children's ball. Helene stayed because she had a terrible cold, and I — because I still felt very unwell, and therefore had no desire whatsoever to go there; we were left, the three of us (en trois), with Arthur, whom I like very much and who is a quite sweet person. Uncle Pontus stayed with us until tea; at his wish we made a little music. After tea he left, we remained alone, worked and entertained Arthur, during which I amused myself very much; around ten o'clock Carl and Louisa returned home. Scarcely had the young people left when the ladies returned home. The Albrecht Palace at the Kotly estate (destroyed during the Soviet era). Digital reconstruction. 25th, Sunday. After Aunt Louisa read us the Gospel at the coffee table, she and Louisa went to church. I stayed, as I was afraid of catching a cold there again. I read a sermon by Hofacker, which is very beautiful, and I undoubtedly did quite right by not going , since Moritz does not touch me . It was the wedding day of Cathrine, the cook (Köchin). At 2 o'clock we watched as she dressed up (ausputzte) for the wedding. For dinner Grandmamma came to us alone (A Minna was at Jette's), as well as Arthur Knor and Stenger. After the meal we danced a little in the hall, but the orchestra on such occasions is always bad. Then we went downstairs for a moment to grace the wedding with our presence, and even danced a française (Française), I with Cathrine and Grandmamma. In the evening Louisa rode with her mother, Carl, and Arthur to a small soirée (soirée) at Princess Dondukova's. Grandmamma stayed with us for a very long time yet, as she was waiting for her carriage (Calesche); Stenger left after tea. Grandmamma told me, among other things, that sweet little Olga, of Mr. Collins, has an attack of croup (Croup Anfall), and she is quite unwell; this news immediately frightened me greatly. Aunt Louisa returned home at half past twelve ; although I was already undressed, I went down to undress Aunt, since all the maids (Kammermädchen) were downstairs . – Carl committed a great many pranks (Unartigkeiten) this evening and carried off my morning dress to his room, so that the next morning I had to go fetch it myself. Society life is bustling: the young ladies are preparing for balls, discussing Countess Branicka's fashionable outfits, and expressing indignation at the insolent behavior of a visitor who dared to accuse them of laughing too much. Evenings at home turn into veritable musical salons, where Sophie, overcoming a fever, sings Italian romances in a duet with the brilliant Opochinin under the guidance of Tamburini himself. Through the noise of the capital's vanity and dancing with the cook at her wedding, a deeply personal drama breaks through. Sophie reveals a secret to the diary: why she rejected the persistent suitor Otto von Kursell, despite the pressure of relatives and rumors that he still loves her. Against the backdrop of these serious reflections, cousin Carl continues his antics: waiting until night, he commits an unheard-of prank and steals Sophie's morning dress, forcing the girl to go to his room herself to retrieve the missing item. 26th, Monday. The weather is magnificent; the sun shone so beautifully, the sky was so clear that I experienced a feeling of spring. In the morning I worked; after breakfast I took a long and pleasant walk with Aunt Louisa, the weather was exquisite (köstlich). When I returned home, I learned a new Tamburini duet. Tamburini was with us in the first half of the day, but I could not sing, as I had just eaten a very heavy breakfast (stark gefrühstückt hatte); he was so kind as to come again in the evening. For dinner dear Madame Meybaum was here. After the meal Aunt Louisa sent to Julchen Collins; unfortunately, to our great regret, we received the quite sad news of dear Olga's death. Ah, this news shocked me greatly. In the evening I took my singing lesson; Tamburini arrived early, so we chatted (verplauderten) for half an hour. 27th, Tuesday. There was a committee (comité) at Uncle Pontus's, so I could not practice and had to content myself with work . After breakfast I rode out with Aunt Louisa: she — to Julia Collins, and I — to Grandmamma's, where I stayed until half past 3. Ivan And was also there, and we chatted quite pleasantly. Then I rode to Aunt Louisa's. Aunt Julchen was very sad and looked very depressed and tear-stained. Although I wanted very much to see the little one , I did not see her, as it did not cross my mind, and I also think that she would have found it unpleasant if I had asked about it. For dinner Arthur was with us. After the meal we made music. At 9 o'clock I took my singing lesson. Tamburini drank tea with us and departed, promising to come on Thursday at one o'clock in the afternoon. 28th, Wednesday. The ballet "Hertha" (Gerta) with the legendary Marie Taglioni In the morning I practiced very diligently, then sewed. After breakfast Aunt Louisa had visits, so we went later for a walk along the Embankment (am quai); the air was magnificent, only too warm, so that I returned home completely overheated (erhitzt). Prince Vyazemsky (Fürst Wiasemsky) escorted us part of the way. It was already past four o'clock when we returned home; the table was already set; Robert and Arthur Knorring dined with us. After the meal we performed our toilette to go to the theater. For the first time the ballet "Hertha" (Gerta) was given. Aunt Louisa and all of us rode there; the theater was packed to the brim (strotzend voll). From the High Family only Michael Pav was there; his two eldest daughters with Countess Apraksina (Aprasin) were here. Before the ballet, they gave another act from the opera "The Elixir of Love" (Elixire d'Amour) in Russian; the music was beautiful, but the was poor. Mademoiselle Stepanova sang abominably (abscheulich), Petrov's voice is very, very good, he performed his role as as Lablache (Lablache). Surprisingly, he sang a little too . In this ballet, Taglioni performs the role of a Fairy. The plot is awkward: a man who formerly courted her now courts another; she is angry because of this, refuses this, and does as comes to her mind (wie ihr vorschwebt) to win him back for herself. The scenery is very beautiful, and M Taglioni herself is charming. Then she again performs a dance with castanets, indescribably (über alle Beschreibung) beautifully, while her facial expressions (Mienenspiel) delight me every time. Our neighbors were the Mezentsovs (Mesenzofs). 29th, Thursday. In the morning I was writing to Mama, and precisely about the fact that it worries me that Papa has not yet arrived; suddenly I hear coughing... "Uncle Jacob! Uncle Jacob!" I run out of my room — and Papa stands before me! It was a joy, truly an immense, immense joy to see him again, and it seemed to me as if I had become closer to all the other dear hearts ; I cried, laughed, embraced, asked questions, etc. At one o'clock Tamburini arrived, and I took my lesson. We took a walk; for dinner Grandmamma, Aunt Minna, and Arthur were here. F Rüd was not at home. After the meal Grandpapa and Aunt Jette arrived; Papa was quite welcoming to them. After tea Aunt Louisa rode with Louisa and Carl to the Vorontsovs', the rest of us stayed together for another half hour. 30th, Friday. We sat for quite a long time at the coffee table, then I went to Papa's room, until a servant came to tell me that Tamburini had arrived; after the lesson we walked alone, then Aunt Louisa and I went for a walk. For dinner Arthur was with us. After the meal we made music; Papa and Stenger for tea. In the morning I dispatched my letter to Mama. The weather is very fine. 31st, Saturday. In the morning I worked, practiced. After breakfast Aunt and Louisa departed, the three of us went for a walk and met the Emperor on Liteyny Prospect (in der Liteina) in a sleigh (in Schlitten), who greeted us very amiably. Arthur for dinner. In the evening we were alone, and Papa with us. A vocal lesson with Maestro Tamburini suddenly falls through for a very prosaic reason: Sophie had such a heavy breakfast that she simply cannot physically sing! But society promenades bring surprising encounters: on the embankment, the ladies are accompanied by Prince Vyazemsky himself, and on Liteyny Prospect, the Emperor, passing by in a sleigh, amiably greets them. The theatrical season is also in full swing—Sophie goes to the Bolshoi Theatre for the premiere of the ballet "Hertha" with Marie Taglioni. Our heroine again activates her strict critic mode, handing out ruthless assessments to the artists. But the main event, eclipsing both ballet passions and the sad news of the passing of a little acquaintance, is the sudden arrival of her strict father. His unexpected appearance in St. Petersburg moves Sophie to tears of absolute happiness and ardent embraces. All article commentary 1. Pietist Prayer: The right page presents a classic Protestant prayer for the New Year. The phrase "das Noththut" (the one thing needful) is a direct reference to the Gospel of Luke (10:42), to the story of Martha and Mary: "But one thing is needful (eins aber ist not)." 2. Chronicle of 1841: Sophie compiles a perfect summary of the entire past year. We learn the exact date of her sister's funeral (December 30, 1840). The family spent the entire winter and spring in mourning at the Estonian estate of Paslep. In the summer (for St. John's Day / Midsummer), they went to Revel (Tallinn). In August came the drama of rejecting Kursell. And in the autumn—an escape to high-society St. Petersburg. 3. Weather: On January 1st, St. Petersburg experienced "12 grad Kälte" (12 degrees of frost on the Réaumur scale). This is exactly -15 °C (5 °F). A truly bracing New Year's frost! 4. Madame Neukirchen (Neidhard) - considering that Sophie often writes names down phonetically or from memory, distorting them, this might refer to the family of General Alexander Neidhardt – former Quartermaster General of His Majesty's Main Staff and Chief of Staff of the Guards Corps, the grandfather of Olga Stolypina, wife of Prime Minister P. Stolypin, and Anna Sazonova, wife of Foreign Minister S. Sazonov. According to the German genealogist M. Stackelberg, the brother of Sophie's grandmother was married to a certain Minna Neidhardt. 5. Little Masks: The tradition of mummers (Yuletide fortune-telling and visits) continues. This time, the children of acquaintances ("kleine Masken"), disguised as an old woman and a boy, drop in on Grandmamma. They visit for 15 minutes and go on to entertain the neighbors. 6. Madame Wilzien (Wilzien) – Helena Elisabeth, née Baroness Frederiks, widow of the court physician Johann Weltzien (Weltzien, Johann Christian (v.) (1767-1829). 7. Stenger – evidently, Heinrich Wilhelm Stenger (1805 Pernau (Est. Pärnu) – 1875 SPb), from a dynasty of Lutheran clergymen in the Baltic governorates, which also included Gotthard Friedrich Stender the Elder, an enlightener of the Latvian people. Heinrich Wilhelm Stenger was the son of the organist of the Lutheran church in Pärnu. His father's sister was married to General Karl Krüdener, the chief steward (Oberhofmeister) of the court of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna. Heinrich Wilhelm Stenger himself worked at the Petrischule and was also a teacher to the children of Grand Duke Michael Pavlovich. 8. To the ball at the Khitrovos' – this possibly refers to the family of Zakhar Khitrovo and his wife, the Italian Countess Paolina Nencini. According to the memoirs of later contemporaries, at the Khitrovos' they "danced much and long... These evenings were abundant with debutantes. The Danzas girls danced here, and the Lanskaya sisters appeared with their mother Natalia Nikolaevna — the widow of Pushkin," meaning the Khitrovo home was a launching pad into society life for the young ladies of capital families. However, the Khitrovo and Knorring families were also connected by business relations. Zakhar Khitrovo himself was the son of the State Controller Alexei Khitrovo (1776, Moscow — 1854, St. Petersburg), who managed to combine his ministerial post with entrepreneurial activity and was one of the founders of the Second Russian Fire Insurance Company. 9. The General's wife Richter, her daughter Natalie and two sons – this refers to the younger children of General Boris Richter (Ger. Burchard Adam von Richter; 1782 - 1832) and his wife Elizabeth, née Hermann – grandchildren of General Ivan Hermann von Fersen, and nephews/nieces of Semyon Yesakov (Pushkin's classmate at the Lyceum, and a beau to the Velho young ladies) — Natalie, Boris (Burchard), and Otto. Of these, only Otto lived a long (1830 - 1908) and eventful life. 10. First Otto and little Yazykova played: The boy Sophie plays with is a future Adjutant General, General of the Infantry, Chief of Staff of the Guards and the St. Petersburg Military District, and manager of the affairs of the Imperial Headquarters. 11. Little Yazykova – Olga (1840 – 1912), daughter of Amalie, née von Krüdener, and Pavel Yazykov, granddaughter of General Karl Krüdener, commander of the Life Guards Semenovsky Regiment and chief steward (Oberhofmeister) of the court of Grand Duchess Elena Pavlovna. Olga would later become the wife of Arthur Knorring. 12. "I put on my light silk dress and a new collar": Sophie dressed up and sang "una voce" for them (one senses the influence of Maestro Tamburini: this refers to Rosina's famous virtuoso aria "Una voce poco fa" from Gioachino Rossini's opera "The Barber of Seville." This is an indicator of Sophie's high vocal mastery). Are her relatives clearly trying to distract Sophie from the distress over her broken betrothal and offer her other options? The General's wives bring their bachelor sons to the dinner party. Her assessment of the candidates is no longer so categorically negative: "young Toll is the most charming person...; 12.3 Boris Richter - is very amusing and also possesses a quite great intellect." In the end, the insolent Stenger beats out all the "most charming," well-mannered, well-bred, and clever suitors ("he ended up being my neighbor at the table, but he entertained me quite well"). 13. High-Society Insolence (merkwürdige Courage): This is a perfect example of 19th-century salon etiquette. A certain Mr. Stenger suddenly shows up "ungebeten" (uninvited) to a small, carefully planned dinner party (dîner) for a narrow circle of people. For the well-bred Sophie, this is the height of ill manners and a striking display of audacity/insolence (Courage in this context is a French loanword meaning brass or presumption). 14. The Imperial "Baisemain": On January 6th, the feast of the Epiphany, a baisemain (from the French baise-main — hand-kissing) took place at the Imperial Court. This was the official ceremony of presenting court ladies and nobility to the Empress. With the precision of a court chronicler, Sophie notes that this grand cour (reception) had been postponed from January 1st due to the traditionally frail health of Empress Alexandra Feodorovna. However, M. Korf in his memoirs relates a different reason for the postponement: "The grand procession scheduled for January 1, 1842, was canceled by notices sent out only the evening before, quite late, and the Emperor on that day was not, contrary to custom, either at the ball of the Chief Master of Ceremonies Count Vorontsov, or at the public masquerade in the theater. The courtiers attributed this to a nervous fit suffered by the Empress, while those who consider themselves profound thinkers and politicians asserted that the procession, to which the entire diplomatic corps is invited on New Year's Day, was canceled to avoid a repetition from the French embassy of the same unpleasantness that occurred on the preceding December 6th. The true reason was entirely different, and it—both then and later—was known only to a very few. On December 31, the sergeant majors of four guard regiments received anonymous notes through the city mail of outrageous content, which drew their attention 'to the poor overall governance, to the extravagance of the Emperor, who borrowed 200 million God knows for what and throws money away on the upkeep of Germans, while the Guard remains without its salary on time.' In this spirit, and in very strong terms, the Guard Corps was reminded of December 14, 1825, and its ranks were invited to mutiny." (from the essay "The Anonymous Notes of Lieutenant Filippov") 15. "Grâce" from "Robert": Undressed for bed, Fräulein Rüdiger comically and with exaggerated theatrical gestures sings Isabella's aria "Grâce, grâce pour toi-même" (Mercy, mercy for thyself) from Giacomo Meyerbeer's mystical opera "Robert le diable" (Robert the Devil), which was incredibly fashionable at the time. 16. Bedroom Secrets (talked rather a lot about marriage in general): This is simply a classic of 19th-century girls' conversations! The young ladies are left alone at home while their aunts shine at the court ball. They fool around, drink tea, and then, having already undressed for bed (ausgekleidet waren), gather in one bedroom and chat in their beds "about marriage in general" (über das Heirathen im allgemeinen). Sophie, as we remember, is particularly acutely concerned with the topic of marriage right now! 17. The Missing Tamburini: The Italian maestro has gotten completely out of hand. He simply stops coming to lessons and doesn't even send notes in reply. Sophie is furious (sehr ärgerlich), and the heavy artillery finally steps in—Aunt Louisa sits down to write an angry letter to the global star! 18. Reconciliation with the Maestro: Antonio Tamburini appears at Sophie's first thing in the morning (before 9 o'clock!). Sophie had been angry about his long absences (although we know he was mourning his son), but she couldn't resist the charm of the Italian star. She soberly notes that his apologies were "vielleicht sehr leer" (perhaps quite empty), but they shake hands and make peace. 19. Sweets for the throat: The young ladies sing (practice) a lot and often suffer from hoarseness in the winter climate. During their walk, they pop into a shop to buy "für unsere Gurgel süßes" (sweets for our throats—lozenges or pastilles), and at the same time treat themselves to almond cookies (Mandelbrot). 20. Wicked Tongues of Society Salons (Madame Salavoy): Sophie ruthlessly mangles names. Madame Salavoy - this is what she calls Natalya Andreevna Petrovo-Solovovo, née Princess Gagarina (1813 - 1893). Pushkin and Vyazemsky attended the "balls at the Solovovs'" in their palace on Nevsky Prospect (86 Nevsky Prospect, known today as the Actor's House). Male contemporaries left their recollections of her: "a heavy, cold beauty" ; "knew how to speak excellently, smoothly, but colorfully and profusely" . Sophie adds a woman's perspective on Madame "Solovaya," scanning her appearance with the ruthlessness of a fashion critic: "sehr brünet mager, eine lange gebogene Nase starker Bartenbart" (very swarthy brunette, thin, a long hooked nose, a strong mustache). Sophie's conclusion is categorical: her facial features might be beautiful, but overall — she is ugly! Natalya Andreevna Petrovo-Solovovo, née Gagarina (1846). Portrait in the collection of the State Hermitage Museum 21. Madame "Salavoy" interrupts the girls' musical hour, having overstayed her welcome at Aunt Louisa's. Before that, however, she had been sitting with Uncle Pontus. The Petrovo-Solovovos were shareholders of the Russian-American Company, and were among those "eligible to be directors." Perhaps this visit is connected with upcoming changes to the company's charter. 22. Needlework (Porte cigarre): 19th-century girls constantly did needlework as a social pastime. Sophie buys fabric (Zeug), canvas, and woolen threads to sew and embroider a Porte cigarre — a cigar case (most likely, this was a soft embroidered pouch for cigars as a gift for one of her male relatives). 23. Vihterpalu (Wiehterpal): Sophie receives word from home that her father and sisters are staying in Vihterpalu (Est. Vihterpalu). 24. Theology in Everyday Life: Pastor Moritz's sermon about how the young Jesus was lost in Jerusalem (from the Gospel of Luke) is perceived by Sophie not merely as a historical narrative, but as a profound personal metaphor — "how easily one can lose Christ from one's heart." This perfectly illustrates how closely high-society ball life was intertwined in her soul with constant spiritual self-examination. 25. Youthful Antics ("schreckliches dummes Zeug"): A very vivid detail: while the adults are busy with their own affairs, the young people (Louisa and Carl) begin to fool around so much (dummes Zeug machen — to do silly things) that everyone else literally laughs to the point of exhaustion (müde gelacht hatten) before returning once more to sedate embroidery in the drawing room. 26. Home Remedies (Spiritus): Once again, a toothache makes Sophie's life miserable. The General's wife Vietinghoff (who lives on the upper floor of the Chevalier Guard Regiment's officer's quarters) sends down some "Spiritus" (strong alcohol or an alcohol tincture) to her. In the 19th century, this was the primary remedy for a toothache—one rinsed the aching tooth with alcohol or applied a soaked cotton swab to the gum to "freeze" the nerve. 27. General Vietinghoff with his wife - Ivan Andreevich Vietinghoff (Ger. Adam Christoph Johann von Vietinghoff genannt Scheel; 1797 - 1871) — a Baron, General of the Cavalry, and commander of the composite cuirassier division. At the time in question, he commanded the Chevalier Guard Regiment with the rank of Major General. His wife was Baroness Elisa (Elise-Sophie-Anna-Ernestine-Caroline), née von Knigge. 28. Lyubov Klüpfel with Willy – evidently, Loulou had a child named Willy. 29. Foreign Accent in St. Petersburg: Sophie (herself a Baltic German for whom German was her native language) amusingly notes that the General's wife Vietinghoff has an "entirely foreign pronunciation and some peculiar expressions." Likely, the German of the General's wife Vietinghoff, who hailed from Courland, differed from the German of Sophie, who hailed from Estonia. 30. Mystical "Bad Luck" (guignon): The entry of January 12th is a stunning psychological touch! Sophie uses the fashionable French word guignon (evil fate, evil eye, chronic bad luck). Her lessons with the Italian superstar Tamburini are constantly disrupted: either he is in mourning or forgot to come, or she has a cold, or she has a toothache. In the end, the deeply religious Sophie draws a truly Pietist conclusion: "it really often seems to me as if the Lord does not wish it." 31. Ice Cream in the 19th Century (Gefrohrenes): A beautiful gastronomic detail! After tea, Grandmamma treats her granddaughters to a dessert that Sophie calls Gefrohrenes (literally — "frozen"). This is exactly how ice cream (fruit ice or cream dessert), which was a very expensive and fashionable indulgence, was called in the first half of the 19th century in the Russian Empire and German-speaking countries. 32. Family Coziness: The entry of January 12th is one of the warmest in the diary. After luxurious balls with a thousand candles, Sophie incredibly appreciates this quiet evening in the "warm dining room" at her grandparents', with sweet wine, almonds, and home music-making, which she affectionately and ironically calls klingelte (strumming). 33. The Maestro's Italian Passions: Antonio Tamburini, the legendary baritone, finally comes to a lesson and... turns it into a theatrical performance! Instead of vocal exercises, he regales the girls with tall tales about his youthful pranks (Jugendstreiche) in Italy: how he pulled off intrigues in a monastery to see a certain young lady. It is no wonder that Sophie writes: "I took my lesson with immense joy" — it was more fun than any opera! 34. High Society Logistics: Sophie Rehbinder drops in for breakfast. She comes directly from Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna (by marriage Duchess of Leuchtenberg) with a purely social request: to convey to Aunt Louisa that she should "take" her along to a ball or reception at the Counts Vorontsov-Dashkovs'. This shows how closely the routes of the court aristocracy intertwined: from the imperial family to private salons. 35. An Imperial Gift: Sophie's friend, Sophie Rehbinder, goes to the ball at the Counts Vorontsov's (which she had asked them to arrange on the previous page) in a dress of pink tulle. Sophie notes that this fabric is a luxurious personal gift from Grand Duchess Maria Nikolaevna! 36. Arias from "La Sonnambula": The young people's home gatherings are accompanied by Carl's singing. He performs excerpts from "La Sonnambula" ("The Sleepwalker") — an incredibly popular opera by Vincenzo Bellini at the time, which was an absolute hit of the St. Petersburg theatrical seasons of the 1840s. 37. "I ask him to come for me": On Friday, January 16th, we witness the beginning of the end of this St. Petersburg journey. Sophie writes to her father in Revel (Tallinn) for him to take her home. Evidently, the "singing lessons," capital balls, and the healing of a broken heart have already served their purpose, and the young woman genuinely misses her family. 38. Parisian Contraband: A charming scene of at-home shopping. The ladies of the Klüpfel family brought a multitude of fashionable embroideries and laces (Broderien) from Paris and, essentially, put on a private fashion show (sale) for their acquaintances. Sophie feels awkward and out of politeness ("to take at least something") buys a collar, grumbling inwardly that it is all unjustifiably expensive. 39. Behling arrived very late and gave his clavier lesson. – Sophie is also taking clavier lessons, in addition to her singing lessons. 40. Baltic Pretzel (Kringel): On the morning of January 17th, it is a holiday in the family. Sophia Katharina Severin was born on January 17, 1800. In honor of her birthday, a Kringel (pretzel) is ordered for morning coffee — a traditional sweet pastry of the Baltic Germans with cinnamon, cardamom, or nuts. Portrait of the young Baron's father from the Hermitage collection. 41. Baron Pahlen (Baron Pahlen – Alexander von der Pahlen (1819-1895), son of the General of the Cavalry Baron Matvey Ivanovich Pahlen (Ger. Carl Magnus Freiherr von der Pahlen), who at that period was the military governor of Riga (and simultaneously the Governor-General of all the Baltic governorates). Through his father, Alexander Pahlen was a nephew to Count Pyotr Pahlen, General of the Cavalry (1798), the military governor of St. Petersburg (1798 - 1801), who led the conspiracy to remove Paul I from the throne. Through his mother, he was a nephew of Field Marshal Barclay de Tolly. Alexander Pahlen inherited the Pahlen estate of Palmse near Tallinn (now a museum). 42. To the Fontanka – Sophie uses St. Petersburg toponyms in her own peculiar way. In the original, she writes "Fontalka" in Latin letters. 43. Heimsuchungs-Tagen (Days of Visitation): Sophie coins a brilliant term to describe the social routine. Baron von Pahlen (a representative of an ancient Estonian family), Madame Sukhozanet, Madame Richter, Madame Diekoff... The visitors come in a steady stream, and the exhausted Sophie complains about this "day of visitation," which she "absolutely does not like." The introvert inside her is finally begging to go home! It is bold of the young lady to be angry at such visitors. 44. Uncle Pontus's Domestic Toxicity: The left page perfectly illustrates the hidden tension in aristocratic families. Uncle Pontus (a General of the Cavalry, a stern man) simply drops a remark (pour parler) that he is too lazy to go escort his daughter to a ball. This provokes immediate passive aggression from his wife (Aunt Louisa). Poor Louisa (the cousin) is forced to change her dress in a hurry, Uncle Pontus nervously lights his pipe and paces the room, and the sensitive Sophie simply sits in the corner, wanting to burst into tears from this suffocating atmosphere. 45. The Tragedy with Pyotr Severin Continues: Grandmamma is in tears because she "accidentally" learned fresh bad news about Pyotr Andreyevich, who was undergoing treatment in Hamburg. Likely, the relatives tried to hide the deterioration of his condition from her, but the truth came out. Pyotr Andreyevich Severin died in Hamburg in 1842. 46. Kursell as "lieblings Conversation": This detail elicits a bitter smile. Despite the fact that Sophie fled to St. Petersburg to forget about the broken engagement, her relatives (especially her grandfather and grandmother) constantly gossip about Otto von Kursell. For them, the scandal with the rejected suitor has become a veritable soap opera and a favorite topic for gossip (lieblings Conversation). 47. The Appearance of Opochinin (Apalschenin): Sophie writes that Tamburini praised her clear voice and promised to bring Herrn Apalschenin to the lesson tomorrow. Hidden beneath this mangled German spelling is Alexander Petrovich Opochinin — a legendary Russian amateur singer (bass/baritone), a star of St. Petersburg high-society salons. He regularly sang duets with global stars such as Giovanni Rubini and Antonio Tamburini. And, as we have already read in later entries, it is precisely the next day that they will put on that very stunning home concert, where Sophie and Opochinin will sing roles from "The Barber of Seville"! 48. Uncle Pontus's Anxieties: Sophie describes in detail the gloomy, withdrawn mood of Uncle Pontus, who goes to his room to smoke alone. The girls whisper about this in surprise. Given the context, one can assume that his anxieties might have been connected precisely with the affairs of the "American Company" or other state concerns. 49. Arthur Knorring (Ger. Karl Otto Arthur von Knorring, 1823 Mogilev - 1889 Yuryev (Tartu)) – grandson of General Otto Knorring, who was killed in 1812 near Dorogobuzh, and whose portrait is in the Military Gallery of the Winter Palace. The only son and heir of Colonel Carl Knorring. In 1841-42, he was enrolled as a student at the University of Dorpat. Later a landowner in Estonia. His first wife (1846) was Countess Stenbock-Fermor, sister of the St. Petersburg entrepreneur Count Yakov Essen-Stenbock-Fermor, the builder of the "Passage" department store on Nevsky Prospect. His second wife was Olga Yazykova. 49.2 The Russian-American Company: This line (Americanischen compagnie Versamlung) is a real historical treasure trove! Uncle Pontus hurries to a meeting of the shareholders or directors of the Russian-American Company. This powerful semi-state monopoly, which managed Alaska and the Kuril Islands, had its headquarters in St. Petersburg (at 72 Moika Embankment). The fact that Sophie's family dines at 16:30 specifically so her uncle can make it to this meeting speaks to his extremely high status and the family's financial interests in the development of the New World! 50. A Brilliant Cousin: Aunt Louisa, over morning coffee, boasts of her daughter's success at the Sukhozanets' ball. Cousin Louisa was "sehr en vogue" (very popular) there. And while Louisa shone, our Sophie sat quietly at home with Fräulein Rüdiger. 51. Countess Branicka – it is not entirely clear who is meant and in what connection the Countess Branicka was mentioned. Countess Alexandra Vasilievna Branitskaya (née Engelhardt) was the niece of Grigory Potemkin and the wife of the Crown Hetman of Poland, Ksawery Branicki; she died in 1838. It is possible Aunt Louisa was calling her daughter, Countess (at that time) Elizaveta Vorontsova, Pushkin's romantic interest in Odessa, by her maiden name. 52. Fashion and Frugality ("unstitched the trimming"): Another magnificent detail of everyday life. On January 21st, the day after the luxurious ball at the Sukhozanets', the ladies sit down and unstitch the trimming (Besätze — ribbons, lace, or flowers) from Louisa's pink crepe dress. In the 19th century, even in wealthy families, basic ball gowns cost an enormous amount of money, so they were not thrown away, but constantly "refreshed" for new balls by changing the detachable decor on them. 53. General Tourno (correctly - Tornau) Baron Fyodor Fyodorovich von Tornau (1810 - 1890) — a Russian military intelligence officer and diplomat, Lieutenant General. Famous for his mission in captivity among the Adyghe people. Whom Sophie calls General Jackson (Jaxon), as well as Madame Pedzevich – could not be established. 54. High-Society Connections (The Ball at the Beloselskys'): Society was tightly knit. Sophie writes that a luxurious ball in the palace of the Princes Beloselsky-Belozersky was canceled due to the death of Madame Poltoratskaya (Poltarzof), apparently Anna Petrovna, née Khlebnikova (1772-1842). The palace is located on the corner of Nevsky Prospect and the Fontanka River (41 Nevsky Prospect, rebuilt in 1848). The hostess of the palace, Princess Elena Pavlovna, née Bibikova (1812-1888), was scandalously known for her flighty behavior, but as the stepdaughter of A. Benckendorff, she was permitted much, if not everything. Aunt Louisa, it seems, did not much like going out and was only glad for this excuse to stay home. 55. The Star of the Salons, Opochinin ("Apalschenin"): This is a fantastic testament to the era! Sophie calls the guest Apalschenin. She is referring to Vladimir Petrovich Opochinin (1810 – 1889) — a naval officer (later Rear Admiral) and one of the most celebrated amateur singers of Pushkin's St. Petersburg. Possessing a magnificent bass-baritone, he sang in aristocratic salons on par with global stars: Rubini, Viardot, and Tamburini. The fact that Sophie sang a duet with him underscores her own extremely high musical status! 57. Figaro's Aria in the Drawing Room: 19th-century home concerts are striking in their scale. Right in Aunt Louisa's drawing room, Opochinin sings the famous, virtuoso "grand aria of Figaro" (Largo al factotum) from Rossini's "The Barber of Seville," while Tamburini accompanies on the piano and gives instructions. Sophie performs the cavatina "Soave Imagine" from Saverio Mercadante's opera "Andronico." A. A. Vasilyev. Portrait of Polyxena Rimskaya-Korsakova; 1846, State Tretyakov Gallery. 58. The Admiral's Wife Korsakova: Having sung their arias, Tamburini and Opochinin hurry to the next society gathering — to the Admiral's wife Korsakova (Admiralin Corsakof). This is another famous St. Petersburg salon (of the Rimsky-Korsakov family), where the entire musical cream of the capital gathered. Korsakova Polyxena Ivanovna, née Sukhotina (1815 - 1848), wife of Vice Admiral Nikolai Petrovich Rimsky-Korsakov (1793, St. Petersburg — 1848, ibid.), director of the Naval Cadet Corps, uncle of the composer N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov, "was a prominent, beautiful lady, who was passionate about singing and had a small, but very pleasant, high soprano." 59. Harsh Climate and Fever: The end of the entry brings us down from the musical heavens to the harsh St. Petersburg earth. Sophie comes down with a very severe bout of fever with nausea and such strong chills (Frost) that her "teeth chattered." Frequent illnesses and flu epidemics were the scourge of winter St. Petersburg in the 1840s. 60. Celestine Kaulbars (1796 – 1883) - Sophie's first cousin once removed on her mother's side, sister of Josef Velho. See the publication about her - The Three Velho Sisters. An acquaintance of A. Pushkin during his years living in Tsarskoye Selo. According to S. Gavrilov's supposition, Celestine Kaulbars is the prototype for the character of the Weaver (Tkachikha) in The Tale of Tsar Saltan. The Myatlev House, modern view. 9 St. Isaac's Square / 2 Pochtamtskaya St. 61. The Myatlevs (Miatlefs) - Praskovya Ivanovna Myatleva (née Countess Saltykova; 1772 - 1859) — a lady-in-waiting and state lady of the court, and her son Ivan Petrovich Myatlev (1796, St. Petersburg — 1844, ibid.) — a Russian poet and chamberlain. Ivan Myatlev opened a salon in his house on St. Isaac's Square, where he hosted musical evenings and receptions. He enjoyed great sympathy in society, although he often played the role of a jester. He was on friendly terms with Pushkin, Vyazemsky, Zhukovsky, and Lermontov. The appearance of Ivan ("Ishka") Myatlev "brought joy into society; his wit enlivened conversation, his talk drove away boredom." Vyazemsky's poetic note to Pushkin is well-known, where he promises that Myatlev will be at the soirée: Dear relative, poet, and chamberlain, And you are kin to him, poet and kamer-junker: We will drink his champagne to the clinker. And there will be verses for us in a bawdy manner. 62. Society Visits and a Storm: Maestro Tamburini is forgiven for his absence; a winter storm with strong winds and a thaw is raging in St. Petersburg. 63. The Shadow of the Rejected Suitor: And so we have returned to the reason for Sophie's flight to St. Petersburg. The young woman receives letters from the Estonian estate from her mother and Fanny. It turns out that the passions surrounding her rejection of young von Kursell (whom she turned down in August 1841) have not subsided! Fanny writes that he "still loves her terribly," and his influential aunt continues to pressure the family so that the wedding will take place. 64. Physical Revulsion: Sophie makes an incredibly candid, intimate entry in her diary, explaining why she persists in her refusal. She has no rational complaints against him (he is rich, noble, the relatives are "in favor"), but she writes: "There is no other reason than that there is something repulsive to me in imagining myself in a closer relationship with him!" This is classic physical revulsion! In the 19th century, when marriages of convenience were the norm, such adherence to one's own feelings required immense courage (which, fortunately, her parents support). The Albrecht Palace on the Kotly estate (destroyed in Soviet times). 65. General Albrecht drops in for a visit. Karl Ivanovich Albrecht (1789 - 1859) — a Russian cavalry officer, Major General, and owner of the Kotly estate near Yamburg. 66. Sophie ruthlessly describes him as "a truly very ugly man, and not only that, but with a terribly unpleasant face." Sophie is definitely not shy in her assessments, but it seems she is biased against the son-in-law of Madame Uglitskaya, whom she hates so much. 67. Arthur, whom I like very much – this is not the first time Sophie allows herself to express sympathy for Arthur Knorring. His company is pleasant to her, so she "amused herself very much," despite her poor health. 68. Waiting for her Father: Sophie is awaiting the arrival of her Papa, to whom she sent a letter asking him to take her home on January 16th. She understands that returning to Estonia means a new encounter with the enamored Kursell, but the desire to be home outweighs her St. Petersburg fears. 69. A Sermon instead of Church: Sophie once again demonstrates her theological selectiveness. She refuses to go to church, using the fear of a cold as an excuse, but honestly writes the real reason in her diary: she is bored listening to Pastor Moritz ("Moritz mich nicht anspricht" — does not speak to me / does not touch me). Instead, she prefers to read at home the profound texts of her favorite Pietist preacher, Ludwig Hofacker. 70. The Cook's Wedding: This is a stunning look at the social hierarchy and everyday life of the 19th century! The cook, Cathrine, is getting married. The aristocratic family not only watches as she dresses up, but after their own dinner, the ladies go down to the first floor or basement (where the servants lived) to "grace the wedding with their presence." Sophie and even Grandmamma herself join the circle and dance a ballroom dance—a française—with the servants! 71. The Absence of Maids: The cook's celebration drags on late into the night. When Aunt Louisa returns from a diplomatic reception at 12:30 AM, the maids are not at their posts (they are still celebrating downstairs). Therefore, her niece Sophie, already undressed for bed, is forced to go down and help her aunt undress — to take off her heavy ball gown and corset. 72. Carl's Prank: A classic youthful prank! While the girls are distracted, cousin Carl sneaks into Sophie's room, takes her morning dress (the clothes she had laid out for tomorrow), and carries it off to his own bedroom. In the morning, Sophie has to go to his room herself to rescue her belongings. This shows how free and informally familial their relationship was. 73. An Attack of Croup (Croup Anfall): In the midst of the merriment, Grandmamma brings terrible news — a little girl they know has had an attack of croup. In the 19th century, diphtherial or viral croup (accompanied by suffocation) was one of the most frequent causes of child mortality. It is no wonder that Sophie writes: "this news immediately frightened me greatly." 74. A Heavy Breakfast: Another amusing little scene with Maestro Tamburini. The Italian superstar arrives in the morning to give a lesson, but Sophie declares she cannot sing because she "stark gefrühstückt hatte" (had just eaten a heavy/strong meal). Singing on a full stomach is physically difficult. Tamburini, who previously skipped lessons for months, this time displays miracles of compliance and agrees to come yet again in the evening! 75. The Tragedy of the Collins Family: The alarming episode from the previous page is resolved. Little Olenka died of croup. Sophie writes of her shock and of her visit to the grief-stricken mother. A chilling detail of the Romantic era is noteworthy: Sophie genuinely wanted to look at the dead child ("die Kleine sehr zu sehen wünschte"), as bidding farewell to the deceased at home was an important part of the culture, but out of delicacy she did not ask the mother about it. 76. The Brilliant Prince Vyazemsky: On a walk along the embankment, the girls are joined and escorted home by none other than Pyotr Andreyevich Vyazemsky — a poet, literary critic, close friend of Pushkin, and one of the key figures in the cultural life of St. Petersburg! 77. The Ballet "Hertha": In the evening Sophie heads to the long-awaited premiere of Filippo Taglioni's ballet "Hertha, or the Queen of the Elfrids" featuring the legendary Marie Taglioni. And once again Sophie shows herself to be a strict critic: the plot of the ballet seems clumsy and awkward (ungeschickt) to her. However, one must remember that "Hertha" became Taglioni's final production with the St. Petersburg troupe. After the last performance of the ballet on March 1, 1842, the curtain was raised 18 times during the applause! 78. Dance with Castanets: Sophie concludes her enthusiastic review of the ballet "La Gitana." The famous dance with castanets performed by Marie Taglioni truly went down in the history of world ballet as a masterpiece of grace, and Sophie calls it "indescribably beautiful." 79. Russian Opera and the Great Osip Petrov: This is an absolute historical masterpiece! That evening before the ballet, they gave an act from Donizetti's "The Elixir of Love," translated into Russian. Sophie evaluates the first stars of the Russian stage: Mademoiselle Stepanova: Maria Stepanova — a famous Russian soprano, the first performer of the roles of Antonida ("A Life for the Tsar") and Lyudmila ("Ruslan and Lyudmila"). But Sophie, accustomed to Italian bel canto, categorically declares: "sang abominably!" 80. Petrov and Lablache: But she enthusiastically praises the legendary Russian bass Osip Petrov (who performed the role of the quack doctor Dulcamara)! Moreover, she compares his acting to Luigi Lablache himself — the greatest Italian bass in Europe, who was the benchmark for this role! For Petrov to receive from a strict German aristocrat (a pupil of Tamburini) the assessment "performed his role as as Lablache" — is the highest historical compliment! 81. Our neighbors were the Mezentsovs (Mesenzofs). – once again we must note Sophie's lifestyle in St. Petersburg. In the theater, she sees Grand Duke Michael, his daughters, and sits in the same box with Vera Nikolaevna Mezentsova, née Countess Zubova (1800 - 1862), granddaughter of Generalissimo A. V. Suvorov, and her daughters Natalia, Elizaveta (1823 - 1852), and Sofia (1825 - 1914). Whether her son Nikolai (1827 - 1878), the future Lieutenant General, Chief of Gendarmes, and head of the Third Section, was also there is unknown. 82. The Arrival of Papa (Uncle Jacob): The emotional peak of January! Sophie's father (whom the household calls Uncle Jacob) made the long winter journey from Revel (Tallinn) to St. Petersburg. The girl is writing a letter to her mother complaining about his absence, and at that very moment hears a commotion in the hallway. The series of verbs "weinte, lachte, herzte, fragte" (cried, laughed, embraced, asked questions) conveys Sophie's profound attachment to her family. The mission to save her from the capital's melancholy (and her suitor's persistent relatives) has entered its final stage — her father has come to take her away! 83. The Emperor in a Sleigh: On Saturday, January 31st, Sophie, strolling with her father along Liteyny Prospect, meets Nicholas I. The Emperor is riding in an open winter sleigh (in Schlitten) and personally greets passers-by. This is an absolutely authentic historical detail: Nicholas I was famous for frequently moving about winter St. Petersburg in a simple sleigh pulled by a single horse, without a grand retinue or escort, saluting the officers and familiar aristocrats he met. National Archives of Estonia (EAA). F. 1334. Inv. 1. F. 78. EAA.5269.1.106 Tagebuch der Sophie von Knorring. (1841–1842). ← Read December, 1841 | To be continued →

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January 1841. Sophie Knorring’s Diary.

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