By Karen Galatz
RENO, Nevada — I was in New York recently to see a jolly round of nine shows. A surprise favorite was the musical, Harmony, about the Comedian Harmonists, an internationally famous German singing group that was forced to disband because of antisemitism amid the rise of fascism before World War II.
The musical was a stark and timely reminder, not only of the peril of antisemitism but also of the constant threat to democracy across the globe.
The all-male sextet was comprised of three Jews and three non-Jews. They were Harry Frommermann, Asparuh “Ari” Leschnikoff, Erich A. Collin, Roman Cycowski, Robert Biberti, and Erwin Bootz.
The group performed from 1928 and 1934. Their repertoire ranged from folk to classical to popular songs often performed amid comedic bits.
In the show, during a triumphant appearance at Carnegie Hall in December 1933, the sextet debated whether to return to Germany amid rising overt antisemitism in their homeland.
The musical is brought to a halt when Albert Einstein, visiting them backstage, issues this warning:
“Throughout the course of history, the failure of democracies has set the stage for the success of tyrants. Greed and hatred is a proven formula for success. In the short term, at least. An unfortunate legacy for our species.”
The audience, clearly recognizing the power and timeliness of these words, went wild with applause. The action on stage paused for a moment.
The driving force behind the musical was songwriter Barry Manilow who developed it with his long-time longtime lyricist, Bruce Sussman. Getting the production to Broadway was a multi-decade work of love for 80-year-old Manilow.
His inspiration for the show came after seeing a 1977 German documentary about the group.
The musical offered little in the way of happy “Copacabana” or “Mandy” toe-tapping sing-along moments. How could it? It was about prejudice, Kristallnacht, the Depression, the rise of Hitler, and World War II.
The songs were strong. The story was powerful. The cast talented. The show was good entertainment, but most of all, it was a powerful reminder of what antisemitism and indifference to injustice can do.
For the original Comedian Harmonists, the lessons of their time were clear. First, the Nazis harassed them and banned pieces they performed by Jewish composers. Then, they forbid them from touring abroad and finally they prohibited the group from performing in public at home.
The three Jewish members of the ensemble fled the country. For a time, the three non-Jews were imprisoned and then, they were sent to the frontlines to fight. The Nazis imprisoned the wife of Erwin Bootz, one of the non-Jewish singers. She was a Jew and a Bolshevik.
All six men survived the war, but Bootz’s wife apparently perished in the camps.
Professionally various incarnations of the Comedian Harmonists followed, but none were as successful as the original group and the six men never reunited after parting.
Two of the group came to the U.S. and settled in California. Erich Collin worked for Northrop Corporation, the aircraft manufacturer, and ran a small plastics workshop on the side.
Roman Cycowski was the last surviving member of the sextet. He served as a cantor at Temple Isaiah in Palm Springs for several decades and at the time of his death at age 97 still often sang there.
In addition to the current production of Harmony, the musical’s prior runs included one at the National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene in New York City.
Harmony … musical and political. Perhaps, in these unharmonious times, the word and the sentiment behind it, offer a way forward.
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You can read more of Karen’s work at Muddling through Middle Age or contact her at karen@muddling.me.