Cantor takes Broadway (and it's not Eddie)

Israeli David Fisher takes
over Jean Valjean role
in 'Les Miserables'

By Carin M. Smilk Staff Writer

COULD JEAN VALJEAN, the hero of Victor Hugo's novel Les Miserables, have been Jewish? Well, if he wasn't before, he is now. For starting Nov. 2 through March 29 at the Imperial Theater (249 W. 45th St.) in New York, the show's lead character will be played by David Fisher, born in Petach Tikva, Israel. Fisher served for years as a pulpit and concert Orthodox cantor in the Jewish State, performing and winning top honors in The Hassidic Festival, The Yiddish Festival and the Festival of Jerusalem. "Cantor and actor - in English, they use almost the same letters, you know," says the 42-year-old Fisher. "Actually there's not much difference from cantorial and theater music, if we're talking about non-spiritual issues. "I think as a cantor you have to be a bigger actor than an actor. They say ballet is the most difficult art - I say cantorial music is harder. You stand with your back to the audience and have to make them feel joy or sadness. You bring people to tears and don't show your face. You bring them to joy, and they can't clap their hands." Fisher's cantorial heyday lasted from 1974 until 1983. He didn't sing at one particular shul but traveled all over, in such Israeli cities as Tel Aviv, Netanya, Ramat Gan, and even in countries like South Africa and Brazil. He performed numerous Yiddish concerts until 1987, when he commenced his role as Jean Valjean in the original Tel Aviv production of Les Miserables. Between 1987 and 1989, Fisher played over 600 performances - minus Friday nights and Saturdays. In New York, he will also not perform on Shabbat. "I was shocked they agreed to my religious observance," Fisher says. "There are hundreds of people who can play Jean Valjean." Maybe there are indeed hundreds, but Fisher was hand-picked for the part. Perhaps it's because the two share similar traits. "Like me, he's got an Orthodox mentality and philosophy ... shown in his consultations with God. He's a good man, he's honest," says Fisher of Valjean. "I wouldn't mind being more like him." One of the most commonly asked questions posed to the cantor-actor is what made him move from the pulpit to the theater? "I saw the show in London in 1986 when it opened. From that moment, I knew this was the thing I wanted to do," Fisher recalls. "You don't decide things like this - it happens to you." Fisher's wife and three children 'will join him on opening night', but they will not remain with him the length of his tour. In the meantime, Fisher has a lot of plans, including learning French, which he does not speak but in which he sings several songs. "I'm very proud of myself. I'm proud of the fact that the producers agreed to this. It's not every day an Israeli comes to Broadway," Fisher says with a chuckle. But he is not just any Israeli, and his voice is clearly not ordinary. In fact, Zubin Mehta, conductor of the Israeli Philharmonic 0rchestra, calls Fisher, who once sang with the Philharmonic, one of the five best tenors in the world. Fisher's practically played the world - from England (in a performance for the Queen), Russia, Poland and Thailand to the 1992 Vienna Festival. Regarding Les Miserables, Fisher credits its success with the story itself and its innovative production. "I think it's the best show ever. It opened a new era of musica1s - a new style of musicals. It's all singing and no ta1king," Fisher explains. "The story of Victor Hugo is so strong here. This story is a reality."

Dade Jewish Journal, Novenber 10,1993