Olga and Tatiana at Court Events

[Ortino]

Only Olga attended the ball that you are describing in 1913, not Tatiana. Tatiana was just approaching the "coming out" age.

[Pasha]

You could be right, but, the author states, "One cause of Alix's apprehension was her bright-eyed, eager daughter Olga, who with her sister Tatiana had been allowed to attend the ball and who was happily dancing every dance."

[Lanie]

Pasha--what book did you read that in?

[Antonio_P.Caballer]

Hello all,

Both Olga and Tatiana attended a ball given by the Dowager Empress at the Anichkov Palace. It was, i´d swear, in January 1914.

Merial Buchanan recalled too a kind of ball or reception given by the Grand Duchess Vladimir in wich Olga and Tatiana were present.

[Ortino]

Both Olga and Tatiana attended a ball given by the Dowager Empress at the Anichkov Palace. It was, i´d swear, in January 1914.

According to Nicholas and Alexandra it seems to have been in 1913. It says "The court balls did not take place that winter, but the social event of the season was a ball which the Dowager Empress gave for her granddaughters at the Anitchkov Palace." You're right though, both Olga and Tatiana attended that.

[Michelle]

If it was in 1913 then Tatiana would've been able to attend because she would've been sixteen by then---the coming-out age.  Olga of course being eighteen.

[Lanie]

Tatiana did not attend any of the Terecentennial festivities in St. Petersburg (theatres, balls, etc) since they were early that year; she was not yet 16.  Only Olga went.

Maria Feodorovna gave a ball for ON and TN on February 14, 1914.  During the 1914 ball the girls just sort of stood around, were not asked to dance, since they were practically strangers to society and too shy to approach anyone to ask for a dance.

[Antonio_P.Caballer]

Hello Lanie!

Well, in fact, after a moment of tension due to what you said(they were pretty strangers to society), they were finally asked to dance and really enjoyed the ball. Check No Time to Grieve, by Helene Iswolsky, page 85. The whole scene is beautifully described.

[Pasha]

Lanie,

The book I got this info from is "Alexandra The Last Tsarina" by Carolly Ericson.
The ball evidently took place the same evening as an event at the Mariinsky Theater ( home of the famous ballet) in St, Petersburg. After an event there, they proceeded to a ball where Alexandra became ill and left, leaving her 2 daughters behind. Evidently, this was during Tercentenary celebrations, so this would have been in 1913.

Very good book about Alexandra.

[Lanie]

Erickson's book is not very good.  She cited sources that aren't even real, like 'My Empress' by Marfa Mouchanow which is fake.  Other accounts about the ball say Olga stayed with Nicholas; Tatiana never went to the theatre or anything.

[Antonio_P.Caballer]

Hello all,

We could perhaps be speaking about different balls. The one i´m speaking about (same as Lanie, i think), took place in January 1914 at the Anichkov Palace. That´s for sure.

[Pasha]

We could be talking about different events. The 1913 event was given by the nobility and was the same day as the Mariinsky Theater event. I don't know if Olga and Tatiana were at the Mariinsky. I would like to more about the 1914 event you are speaking of, Antonio. I would also like to find a copy of "No Time to Grieve".
Is this an out of print, older book?

I did get some good insights into Alexandra's personality in the Ericson book. We are all entitled to our opinions.

[moonlight_tsarina]

I enjoyed Erickson's book. However, the false citations that Lanie pointed out above did annoy me!

[yusupovs_fan]

Does anyone know if Irina Aleksandrovna was also present at the   ball given by Maria Feodorovna? I would love to know which court events she attended:)

[Lanie]

We could be talking about different events. The 1913 event was given by the nobility and was the same day as the Mariinsky Theater event. I don't know if Olga and Tatiana were at the Mariinsky. I would like to more about the 1914 event you are speaking of, Antonio. I would also like to find a copy of "No Time to Grieve".
Is this an out of print, older book?

I did get some good insights into Alexandra's personality in the Ericson book. We are all entitled to our opinions.

Tatiana didn't go to the theatre or the ball in 1913.  Only Olga did.  There's a painting, done in 1915, of Olga dancing there.  It's very nice.  It looks like Irina Aleksandrovna is there.  I wouldn't be surprised if Irina went there and to the 1914 ball.