Roman Cycowski
Roman Cycowski (January 25, 1901 – November 9, 1998) was an American singer who was the last surviving member of the Comedian Harmonists, a German vocal sextet dissolved by the Nazi regime due to the Jewish background of three of its members.[1][2]
Biography
[edit source]Born in Łódź, Poland, Cycowski trained as a cantor and relocated to Germany in 1921 with aspirations of becoming an opera singer.[3] In Germany, he was educated at the Berlin Conservatory of Music.[4]
Cycowski joined the Comedian Harmonists in 1927 and was initially seen as a diversion from his operatic goals.[3] As one of the group's three lead singers, Cycowski brought his operatic training to performances, notably in pieces like The Blue Danube and comic adaptations from The Barber of Seville.[3] After the group was disbanded in 1935 under Nazi pressure, Cycowski continued to perform internationally with the other Jewish members as the Comedy Harmonists.[3]
In 1941, Cycowski moved to the United States.[4] He later settled in San Francisco, serving as a cantor at Beth Israel Temple for 15 years before retiring to Palm Springs, California.[3][4]
References
[edit source]- ↑ By (1998-11-15). "ROMAN CYCOWSKI, ORIGINAL MEMBER OF GERMANY'S COMEDIAN HARMONISTS". Sun Sentinel. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- ↑ Archives, L. A. Times (1998-11-13). "Obituaries - Nov. 13, 1998". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Holden, Stephen (1998-11-14). "Roman Cycowski, 97, Vocal Sextet Member". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
- 1 2 3 Katz, Leslie (November 20, 1998). "Roman Cycowski, longtime S.F. cantor, dies at 98". jweekly.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.