Igor Stravinsky, the renowned Russian composer, experienced exile primarily due to the political upheaval and turmoil that followed the Russian Revolution of 1917. After the revolution, the new Bolshevik government imposed strict controls over artistic expression and sought to promote a specific ideological narrative in the arts. Stravinsky, who had gained fame with works like ‘The Firebird’ and ‘The Rite of Spring,’ did not align with the new regime’s artistic direction.
In 1920, Stravinsky left Russia and settled in Western Europe, where he continued to compose and experiment with musical styles. His exile was both a personal and artistic necessity, as he sought the freedom to create without the constraints imposed by a totalitarian government. Ultimately, Stravinsky spent much of his life in various places, including Switzerland, France, and the United States, where he became a pivotal figure in 20th-century music.