The St. Petersburg Palaces music festival has come to an end with a charity ball in Tsarskoe Selo – the historic summer residence of the former tsars. The highlight of the event was a gala concert featuring the festival's brightest stars, inclu

The lost traditions of the aristocratic ball have been reborn as part of a festival which aims to recover Russia's musical, cultural and historical traditions in the glittering interiors of St. Petersburg's palaces.

The organisers say they are happy with what the festival has become. “After 16 years we can state that the festival is a success,” said Maria Safariants, the festival’s artistic director.

She added: “We gave life to something special here. Today the idea of staging classical concerts in the palaces would not surprise anyone. But we were the first to start this trend and we are very proud of that”.

The festival concluded with the Grand Ball in the Catherine Palace – a multi-layer event, which includes dances, charity and diplomatic functions. But the jewel in the crown was undoubtedly the Gala Concert. One of the world's leading classical sopranos Renee Fleming was its special guest.

French violinist Fanny Clamagirand, winner of the World Music Masters, got a rare opportunity to perform using a violin made by Antonio Stradivari.

She said: “I appreciate this very much. For me this is the first time I have this possibility to play this kind of instrument in public. We had a chance to practise a little and it is a wonderful violin. So it was really only just pleasure.”

Saxophonist Federico Mondelci says the festival is very different from others of its kind. “It takes place in fantastic venues – fantastic palaces,” he said. “It is probably the only place in the world where these kind of things happen”.

Over the course of its life, the festival has won many friends and a number of famous musicians come back year after year.