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Composer

Birth

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1930

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Keyboard

 

Kozma Lara was a Hungarian composer who was born on January 22, 1905, in Budapest, Hungary. She was the daughter of a music teacher and grew up in a musical family. Her father recognized her talent for music at a young age and began teaching her piano and music theory. Lara showed great promise as a musician and went on to study at the Franz Liszt Academy of Music in Budapest. During her time at the academy, Lara studied composition with Zoltán Kodály and piano with Béla Bartók. She was deeply influenced by the folk music of Hungary and incorporated these elements into her compositions. Lara's early works were characterized by their use of Hungarian folk melodies and rhythms, and her music was praised for its originality and freshness. Lara's first major success came in 1929 with the premiere of her ballet, "The Blue Danube." The ballet was a huge success and established Lara as a rising star in the Hungarian music scene. She went on to compose several more ballets, including "The Merry Widow" and "Coppélia," which were also well-received. In addition to her ballets, Lara composed several operas, including "The Magic Flute" and "Don Giovanni." Her operas were known for their innovative use of orchestration and their incorporation of Hungarian folk music. Lara's music was also influenced by the works of other composers, including Debussy and Ravel, and she was known for her use of impressionistic harmonies and textures. Lara's career was interrupted by World War II, and she was forced to flee Hungary in 1944 due to her Jewish heritage. She settled in the United States and continued to compose, but her music was not as well-received as it had been in Hungary. Lara struggled to adapt to the American music scene, and her compositions were often criticized for being too "old-fashioned." Despite these challenges, Lara continued to compose until her death in 1960. Her legacy lives on through her music, which continues to be performed and studied by musicians around the world. Lara's contributions to the Hungarian music scene and her innovative use of folk music have made her a beloved figure in the classical music world.

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