Hosting about 300 events a year, Vienna is recognized as the world's "ball capital." But before the 1917 Revolution, ballroom events in Russia were also placed at the top of the then-high society's social agenda.

Almazny Dvor – the trading arm of diamond company Alrosa – and LifeStyle have joined to revive one of the Russia's most beautiful traditions – the Autumn Ball for High Society. The ball will take place in the Catherine the Great Palace on Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.

The organizers did not have to specially create anything to give this event the atmosphere of the 19th century. Everything is here: the old mansion with walls decorated with masterpieces by the great artists of the past, ballroom costumes and jewelry.

Many big-name personalities are expected to attend, including pop singers Angelika Varum and Leonid Agutin, ORT television channel newsreader Yekaterina Andreyeva, actors Oleg Yankovsky and Fyodor Bondarchyuk and theater director Pyotr Fomenko.

The program will include a performance by the State Academic Theater of Classical Ballet directed by Vladimir Vasilev and Natalia Kasatkina, a fashion show by designer Alisa Tolkacheva and an exhibition of diamonds. Diamonds, jewelry and gold nuggets from the collection of Almazny Dvor will be on display and on sale. Also, there will be a lottery raffling exclusive jewelry, foreign tours and other goodies.

What: Autumn Ball.
Where: Catherine the Great Palace.
2 Suvorovskaya Ploshchad.
Metro: Novoslobodskaya.
Tel: 959-2330; 959-2345.