Opera Singer, Folk Figure. Known simply as "Praskovia", she was a leading soprano of late 18th. century Russia. Born to a serf family owned by Count Pyotr Sheremetev, she moved with her parents to the Count's Kuskovo Estate near Moscow, then was taken to serve as a chambermaid for Princess Martha Dolgorukaya, a relative who also resided in the manor there. When Count Pyotr and his son Nikolai were forming an opera company, they discovered Praskovia's vocal talent and arranged some training, after which she made her 1779 debut at Kuskovo as a servant in Andre Gretry's "L'Amitie a l'epreuve". Over the next 20 years, she was to gain renown in the Kuskovo Theatre, and later in the more opulent Ostankino. In 1780, she starred as Belinda in Antonio Sacchini's "La colonie", around the same time being given the stage name "Zhemchugova" ("The Pearl"). Praskovia performed a number of works, with her signature role probably being Elaine in Gretry's "Les Mariages samnites", even earning praise from royalty including King Stanislaw August Poniatowski of Poland, and Empress Catherine II, who according to legend gave her a diamond ring. By her mid-teens, Praskovia was fluent in French and Italian, and an accomplished harpist; at some point in the mid 1780s, a romance developed between her and Count Nikolai in flagrant violation of societal taboos. When Count Pyotr died in 1788, and Count Nikolai succeeded to ownership of the estate, he moved with Praskovia to a remote part of the property. Praskovia's operatic success continued despite much gossip among the nobility; when Nikolai was appointed to the court of Paul I in St. Petersburg, he took his 'wife' with him, though an effort was made to keep the true nature of the relationship secret. In 1798, Nikolai emancipated Proskovia, with freedom for her family soon following; around that time, she developed tuberculosis, and had to retire from singing. In 1801, she and Nikolai married in a clandestine ceremony, albeit with the blessing of Emperor Alexander I. Notwithstanding Praskovia's new-found status as Polish 'nobility', complete with genealogy and royal patent supplied by a well-paid forger, there was much high society grumbling, and a loud outcry from Nikolai's nephews, who realized that 'their' inheriance would now go to the descendants of serfs. Weakened by chronic illness, Praskovia died three weaks after bearing a son; her funeral was attended by servants and clergy, the nobility staying away in protest of a marriage they continued to consider improper. In her memory, Nikolai founded a Moscow orphan asylum that remained in operation until it was destroyed by the Soviets.