By The Times/Ledger
Dudu (David) Fisher, the internationally renowned Israeli singer, spent last week in New York City to prepare for his performance with the Queens Symphony Orchestra at its “Israel at the Millennium” concert on April 30.
Fisher starred on Broadway as Jean Valjean in “Les Miserables,” performed with the Israel Philharmonic conducted by Zubin Mehta on French television and was the first Israeli invited to a royal performance in London, attended by Queen Elizabeth II.
After a three-year stint in the Israeli army and studies at the Tel Aviv Music Academy, Fisher became the cantor of the Great Synagogue of Tel Aviv in 1973 at the age of 22. Fourteen years later, with no experience in the theater world, he auditioned for the Hebrew-language version of “Les Miserables” in Tel Aviv and was selected by the production's British director, Stephan Pilmot, to play the role of Jean Valjean.
Fisher has recorded 20 albums and six videos, performed in a movie, “The Road to Glory,” directed by Menachem Golan, and dubbed and sang the role of Moses in Steven Spielberg's “The Prince of Egypt.”
Future plans include taking his 1999 off-Broadway show, “Never on Friday,” on a U.S. national tour, a production of “King David” by Tim Rice and Alan Menken, a show in New York's Town Hall in October, and a new musical with Israel's national theater, Habima, opening in December.
Now in its 47th season, the Queens Symphony Orchestra is the largest and oldest performing arts institution in Queens. The QSO's “Israel at the Millennium” concert will take place on Sunday, April 30 at 7 p.m. at Queens College's Colden Center for the Performing Arts, 65-30 Kissena Blvd., Flushing.
