Bela Bartok
Born into the heart of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, Bela Bartok (1881-1945) became a fervent nationalist, setting off with his friend Zoltan Kodaly to record their native folk music; these sounds and experiences were a formative influence on his compositions. Bartok`s distaste for authoritarian rule brought him into conflict with both the Hungarian government and Adolf Hitler`s Germany, and in 1940 he emigrated to the USA. Despite his disillusionment and poor health he continued to compose outstanding works there, never compromising his ideals nor losing his innocence.

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