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“January each year saw the opening of the season of court balls in St. Petersburg. The first ball was held in the Great Nicolas Hall of the Winter Palace for more than 3,000 guests.
1903 was the last year that balls were held at the Winter Palace. On 11 February about 390 guests were invited to attend a performance at the Imperial Hermitage dressed in costumes from the 17th century.”
Nicholas and Alexandra: The Last Imperial Family of Tsarist Russia