Sophie Fedorovitch

Fedorovitch was born and raised in Minsk, Russian Empire (now Belarus) and studied painting in Kraków, Moscow, and St Petersburg. She migrated from Russia to England in 1920. She was established as a painter until she met Ashton, after which she increasingly came to devote her career to set and costume design. ==Career==

Ashton and Fedorovitch met in 1925, introduced by Marie Rambert, who had met her in 1921. They worked together from A Tragedy of Fashion, Ashton's first ballet in 1926. Costumes and scenery were by Fedorovitch, who continued to work with Ashton for more than twenty years, and became, in his words, "not only my dearest friend but my greatest artistic collaborator and adviser". As a friend and collaborator, she did most of her early works for Ashton. Altogether, they collaborated on eleven works. It has been performed over 200 times by The Royal Ballet, and by Scottish Ballet. Her confidants, in addition to Ashton, included Barbara Ker-Seymer, Olivia Wyndham, Marty Mann and Lucy Norton. ==Death==

Fedorovitch died as a result of a gas leak at her house at 22 Bury Walk, Chelsea. A memorial plaque to "Sophie Fedorovitch, costume designer" was subsequently erected there. ==Designs created==

• • 1933 – Les Masques, for Frederick Ashton • • • • • • • • • 1948 – La traviata, for Covent Garden Opera (now The Royal Opera) • 1950 – Madama Butterfly, for Covent Garden Opera (now The Royal Opera) • • ==References==