Prologue The archivist of Mordasov relates how writer Feodor Dostoevsky has recently paid a visit, researching the life of a certain Zina, a beautiful girl who once lived in the town, for a forthcoming novel.
Her overbearing mother, Maria Alexandrowna, learns than an aging Prince is visiting the town and sees an opportunity to marry her daughter off.
A letter arrives from Fedya to Zina, urging her to come quickly and visit him as he feels near to death, but is intercepted and destroyed by Paul.
He goes to bid farewell to Maria and Zina and arrives to find the house full of women, invited by Nastassja to witness the ceremony.
Jane Henschel, Juanita Lascarro, Charlotte Hellekant, Albert Dohnen, Robert Wörle, Michael Kraus, Ernst Senff Chor, Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin, Lothar Zagrosek.