War & Peace

St. Natalia's Day, 1805. While the Count fusses over preparations for dinner, the Countess Rostov, her eldest daughter Vera and old friend Princess Drubetskoya receive callers. Madame Karagina brings news that Count Bezuhov, a relation of the Princess, is dying. They speculate whether his illegitimate son Pierre will inherit the family fortune. The Rostov children (Natasha, Nikolai and Petya), the Countess's niece Sonya and the Princess' son Boris enter. Boris has already joined the army and Nikolai is keen to join up as well. Meanwhile, at the Bezuhov household Pierre waits for news, while Vasili Kuragin tells the Count's niece, Katishe, about the existence of a letter written to the Tsar, which legitimises Pierre but has never been sent...

At one of her soirees, Anna Scherer suggests Princess Maria Bolkonskya to Vasili Kuragin as a suitable match for his wayward son Anatole. Also bending Vasili's ear is Princes Drubetskoya, who is intent on securing a place in the Imperial Guard for her son Boris. The newly legitimized Pierre Bezuhov makes a poor impression at the reception, but is pleased to catch up with his old friend, Prince Andrei Bolkonsky, who is Maria's brother. Later that evening, Pierre learns that Andrei is unhappy in his marriage. Andrei's wife, Lisa, believes that his feelings for her have changed since they married. She also harbors fears about her unborn child and Andrei's determination to go to war. Andrei plans to leave for Austria after he has installed Lisa at Bald Hills - the country estate where both his father and sister live...