The Comedian Harmonists were a German close harmony group formed in Berlin in 1928. They were known for their innovative blend of classical, jazz, and folk music, as well as their social commentary and humor. The group disbanded in 1934 due to the rise of the Nazi Party, but they remain one of the most popular and influential vocal groups of all time.
There are a number of ways to learn more about The Comedian Harmonists:
- Listen to their music. The Comedian Harmonists recorded hundreds of songs during their short career. Their music is available on CD and streaming services.
- Read books and articles about them. There are a number of books and articles written about The Comedian Harmonists. Some popular titles include:
- The Comedian Harmonists: Life, Music, and Legacy by Alan Walker
- Harmony: The Comedian Harmonists by Joseph Weintraub
- The Comedian Harmonists: A Pictorial History by Robert Eberhardt
- See the Broadway musical about them. There is a musical about The Comedian Harmonists called Harmony: A New Musical. It is currently playing at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York City.
If you are interested in learning more about The Comedian Harmonists, I encourage you to check out some of the resources listed above. They are one of the most fascinating and influential vocal groups of all time, and their story is worth learning.
The Musical about The Comedian Harmonists
Starting performances on Broadway on October 18th is the first and only musical about this singing group – Harmony: A New Musical.
The complete Broadway cast includes Chip Zien as Rabbi, Sierra Boggess as Mary, Julie Benko as Ruth, Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, and Steven Telsey as the Comedian Harmonists, Allison Semmes as Josephine Baker, Andrew O’Shanick as Standartenfϋhrer, Zak Edwards, Dan Hoy, Bruce Landry, Rhonni Rose Mantilla, Daniel Z. Miller, Benjamin H. Moore, Matthew Mucha, Constantine Pappas, Kayleen Seidl, Kyla Stone, Bronwyn Tarboton, Kate Wesler, Stuart Zagnit, and Lee Zarrett.
To learn more about Harmony: A New Musical, click here.
