David D'Or דוד ד'אור | |
|---|---|
 David D'Or performing in Istanbul, 2004 at theEurovision Song Contest | |
| Background information | |
| Born | David Nehaisi (1965-10-02)October 2, 1965 (age 60) |
| Genres | Classical crossover,operatic pop, Pop, rock, dance,folk,klezmer, classical, opera,baroquearias |
| Occupation(s) | singer, composer, songwriter |
| Instrument | Vocals |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Labels | Hed Arzi, Aviv,SISU,Big Beat/Ada |
| Website | www.daviddor.com |
David D'Or (Hebrew:דוד ד'אור; bornDavid Nehaisi on October 2, 1965) is anIsraeli singer, composer, and songwriter. Acountertenor with avocal range of more than fouroctaves, he is a three-time winner of the Israeli "Singer of the Year" and "Best Vocal Performer" awards.[1] He was also chosen to represent Israel in the2004 Eurovision Song Contest, at which he placed 11th in the semi-final.[2][3] By February 2008, nine of his albums had goneplatinum.[3][4]
D'Or performs a wide variety of music, including pop, rock, dance,folk,klezmer, Yemenite prayers, holy music, ancientchants, classical, opera, andbaroquearias (in the original Italian).[1][4][5][6][7][8][9][10]
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D'Or was born inHolon, Israel, to a family ofLibyan Jews.[6] His great-grandfather was a rabbi in the Libyan Jewish community, and his father brought the family fromLibya to Israel during the period of Jewish settlement in.[7][9] His brother,Yaniv d'Or, is also a professional singer.
From an early age, D'Or displayed an interest in singing, though his parents initially encouraged him toward more conventional professional paths such as law or medicine.[11] When his voice changed in adolescence, he made a conscious effort to preserve his capacity for high-register singing. At that time, countertenor-like vocal techniques were not common in Israel, and he described the cultural climate as beingmachoistic. Though initially hesitant to perform with this voice, he later embraced it,[11][12] describing the combination of high and low registers as an integral part of his identity: "[I]t was like using [only] part of me", he said. "I could sing low and I could sing high; [I]t's like using only one hand...you have two hands, and you're using only your right hand."[12]
During his three years of military service, D'Or served as a singer in the Israeli Military Band, and in 1985–86 he was in theIsraeli ArmyCentral Command troops entertainment group, and took part in the recording ofBe'sha'araikh Yerikho.[7][13][14] Though thankful for the opportunity, and remaining in support of Israel's military, D'Or felt that music and the army didn't mesh well together, and viewed his years in the army as a difficult period in terms of his musical development.[15]
D'Or is married to Pazit, formerly a jewelry designer and now his manager. They met as high school students inBat Yam.[16] They have two children and reside in the Israeli town ofSavyon nearTel Aviv.[15]
After his army service, D'Or and two army colleagues (Benny Nadler and Rivi Ben-Basht) formed a trio namedHaShlishiya (the "Threesome"), but it disbanded after just one single. A few months later he formed another group, namedKav 4 ("Fourth Chord"), but it disbanded before completing its inaugural album.[17] At the same time he was invited by the Israeli National Theater ("Habima Theater") to be in various performances, among them "Blood Marriage", "Cabaret", "Cry the Beloved Country (music byKurt Weill)", and "Tartuffe (music byGiya Kancheli)."[14][18][19] D’Or performed at theHabima Theater for four years, during which time he received outstanding reviews, such asMaariv's review of Cry the Beloved Country: "D'or's outstanding voice is meant for great parts. His voice and presence embraces the audience, who showed their appreciation by a lengthy standing ovation".[20] He was at the same time professionally trained, and tutored bySoprano Miriam Melzer, from 1987 to 1990 at theJerusalem Academy of Music and Dance, from which he graduated.[7][21][22]
In 1991, D'Or was accepted into and enrolled in the classical music department of theJerusalem Conservatory.[7] That year D'Or also began his musical career as a classicaltenor.Zubin Mehta, music director of theIsrael Philharmonic Orchestra, heard D'Or sing and invited him to perform as soloist in "Carmina Burana" byCarl Orff, performing in a series of concerts all over the country.[12][14][19]Yediot Achronot reviewed his performance, writing: "David D’Or is a contra tenor with tone, colour and exceptional style well beyond other soloists".[20]
In 1992, D’Or released his first album entitledDavid D'Or.[21] It included hit song "Yad Anuga", also known as "Yad Agunah" ("Gentle Hand", or "Tender Hand"), which was remixed by Nelson "Paradise" Roman and Bump, produced by Ofer Meiri andYehudit Ravitz, released as a vinyl12-inch single byBig Beat Records andMagnet Records, and reached # 3 in the most frequently played charts in Great Britain.[19][23]
His second album,Be'govah Mishtane ("Changing Altitudes", or "Changing Heights"), released January 1, 1993,[24] included the song "Ani Af" ("I Fly", or "I am Flying"),[25] and what was to become an iconic Israeli song, "Tishmor al HaOlam Yeled" ("Watch Over the World, Child", or "Protect Our World, Child").[26][27][28] The latter song was subsequentlycovered byLiel Kolet andScorpions' singerKlaus Meine, as well as byShuly Nathan.[29][30] The CD consisting mostly of songs composed by D'Or was even more successful than its predecessor and went platinum.[26][31]Globus reviewed the album and wrote the following: "In an age in which it seems that a good voice is not particularly necessary to be a singer, David D'Or comes along and reminds anyone who had forgotten that not only can things be different, they need to be different. Simply put, D'Or sings beautifully and knows how to choose songs that fit his unique voice...One has to credit him for fulfilling his mission with bravura; his voice on stage sounds as good and convincing as it does in the recording studio. The wide variety of styles that he incorporates in his music, along with his superb vocal ability, allows him to appeal to adults and youths alike."[20] Later in 1993, D'Or participated in the televised competition to represent Israel in theEurovision Song Contest (Kdam Erovizion), with his song "Parpar,"[32] and came in fourth place.[33][34]
Side by side with his classical education, D'Or was drawn toethnic music. This interest led him in 1995 to record with Moroccan IsraeliShlomo Bar and the band "Habrera Hativit" ("The Natural Gathering", "Natural Choice", or "Natural Selection"; composed of ethnic musicians) and release a popular new album,David & Shlomo (also known asDavid and Salomon).[12][35][36][37]Maariv reviewed the album, writing: "The Duet of David and Shlomo is wonderful and stunning."[20] He also joinedDudu Fisher,Meir Banai, and Eran Zur in the song "Lisa" on the 1994 album "Radio Blah-Blah" by the Israeli band "The Friends of Natasha".[38]
In 1995, as Israel and theHoly See had just established political relations, D'Or also received an invitation from theVatican to perform forPope John Paul II.[12] His repertoire at this concert, which was broadcast worldwide and received enthusiastic reviews, united original ethnic music with European classics, and included a song D'Or composed specifically for the Pope in both Hebrew and Italian.[12][14][39] He was the first Israeli singer to sing inHebrew for the Pope.[40] After he performed for the Pope ("He held my hand and gave me his blessing", D'Or said. "I just kept thinking: 'Here I am, little David from Israel, singing in Hebrew...It was a very powerful thing.'"),[7] D'Or was invited to perform in Italy, where he appeared on TV shows such asMaurizio Costanzo on Channel 1, andPaulo Limiti on Channel 2.[14][36] The Italian press, such asCorriere della Sera andLa Repubblica, gave D'Or positive reviews.[36]
In 1997, D'Or released his fourth album,David D’Or & Etti Ankri,[41] withEtti Ankri, which included them singing a duet of Ankri's hit "Lolita".[42] That year as well theRa'anana Symphony Orchestra commissioned an original work, a smallcantata, specially written for D'Or, entitled "The Children of God" ("Yeldai Ha Elohim").[12] The lyrics consist of sentences that appear in the Jewish,Muslim, and Christian religions, emphasizing the message of "love your neighbor." The work was composed byGeorgian-born Israeli composer Josef Bardanashvilli, subsequently opened in a series of concerts of the orchestra in Israel and throughout the US, and was a great success.[14][43]
His fifth album entitledBaneshama ("In the Soul") was released on March 31, 2001, with 11 of the 12 tracks written by D'Or.[36][44][45][46]
In 2001, D'Or was named Israel'sSinger of the Year andBest Vocal Performer.[43][47]
In 2002, he was again named Israel'sSinger of the Year (receiving theTamuz Prize) andBest Vocal Performer, and also received the award forBest Song for "Kol HaCochavim" at the Israel Music Awards.[19][31] After9/11 D'Or andEtti Ankri,Zehava Ben,Arkady Duchin, and other Israeli singers recorded the title song "Yesh Od Tikvah" ("Our Hope Endures"), for which D'Or wrote the music and lyrics, on the CDYesh Od Tikvah/You've Got a Friend.[48][49] The CD released by Hed Arzi in 2002 benefited Israeli terror victims, with all proceeds going to "NATAL": the "IsraelTrauma center for Victims of Terror and War".[50]
D’Or then releasedDavid D’Or & the Philharmonic; Live Concert on April 1, 2003,[51][52] which successfully broke traditional barriers as it combined amedley of pop, classical, and opera which he sang, backed by the 120-member Israel Philharmonic Orchestra.[53][54] The album, which included among other pieces "Agnus Dei", "Orfeo", "Let Me Cry", and "The Phantom of the Opera" reached gold status in just two weeks.[55] The newspaperYediot Achronot reviewed the CD in its opera section and wrote the following: "D’Or excelled...with his fantastic counter tenor voice...in a most exciting performance. All in all, this is a very moving CD."[20] That year D'Or also released the CD "Shma Israel",[1] and "The Hidden Gate: Jewish Music from Around the World" was released byRounder Records on July 1, featuring whatThe Independent described as "haunting stuff" from David D'Or.[56]
In November 2003, theIsrael Broadcasting Authority (the "IBA") chose D'Or to represent the country in the2004 Eurovision Song Contest.[36] D'Or represented Israel in the contest inIstanbul, with the song "Leha'amin" (To Believe),[3] which he co-wrote withEhud Manor.[57] The song was chosen on February 5, 2004, in voting during the program "Israel Selects a Song", held during a break in a televisedMaccabi Tel AvivEuroleague basketball game in Tel Aviv at which videos of four songs sung by D'Or were shown.[58] The vote was by both a special IBA Eurovision Committee (including prior Israeli entrantsLior Narkis andGali Atari), which accounted for 40% of the vote, and atelevote by viewers, who accounted for the remaining 60% of the vote. The basketball game attracted 13.7% of Israeli TV viewers.[59] The song won 60% of the jury's vote, and 66% of the viewers' televotes.[60][61]
During Eurovision rehearsal week, D'Or left Istanbul to be with his father who was suffering fromdiabetes and had been rushed to a hospital where one of his legs had to be amputated.[62] D'Or then returned to Istanbul to perform[63] on May 12, 2004,[11] and placed 11th in the semi-final failing to qualify to the final, while 19% of Israeli viewers watched on television.[3][64] His father has since died.[3][62]
On June 1, 2004, he released the CD entitledLe Haamin ("To Believe").[65] His performance of the song was also on the official Eurovision compilation CD,Eurovision Song Contest: Istanbul 2004, released that year by CMC Entertainment.[2] In 2004, he also collaborated withSarit Hadad to record the DVD "Pets in Tunes.[3] His year was capped by his being awarded the titles of Israeli 2004 "Singer of the Year" and "Best Vocal Performer".[66][67][68]
In January 2005, he released a clubby, Englishelectronichouse vinyl 12" single ofGeorge Michael's "Careless Whisper" on the 3 Lanka and Hed Arzi labels, produced and mixed by DJ Amiad, with remixes by Future Funk and Michi Lange.[4][69] The track attracted international interest.[69]
On March 27, 2006, D'Or releasedKmo HaRuach ("Like the Wind"), which includedduets with Israeli singersArkadi Duchin,Arik Einstein,Shlomi Shabat, andEhud Banai,[70][71] and the song "Zman Ahava" ("Time for Love") withEhud Banai.[72] D'Or composed all the songs on the album, combiningworld music withjazz,Thai, andIndian elements.[73] In 2006, D'Or also collaborated withrapperSubliminal for the song "Ten Koah" ("Give Me Strength") on Subliminal'ship hop album,Just When You Thought it Was Over.[74] He also joined Shlomo Bar in a duet of "Atzlano Kafar Todrah" for the CDThe Rough Guide to the Music of Israel released on February 17, 2006,[75] and sang the song "Travelling North" or "Heading North" ("Nose'a Tzafonah") on the 2006 CDTo the North with Love ("Latsafon Be'ahava").[5]
On May 19, 2007, D’Or performed with sopranoSeiko Lee in the world premier performance of the 40-minute ten-movement "peacecantata", "Halelu—Songs of David", inBelgrade, Serbia. The concert was televised to six otherEastern European countries. The composition for solo voices,chorus, and orchestra, was a collaborative effort of D’Or and American composer/conductorDavid Eaton, music director of the New York City Symphony, who conducted the combinedBelgrade Philharmonic Orchestra and the 120-voice choir of the Academic Cultural Artistic Society. Halelu is sung in English,Hebrew,Arabic, andLatin, with greetings of peace of Judaism, Christianity, andIslam figuring prominently in the lyrical content of several movements, and withPsalm 113 (sung in Hebrew by D’Or) as the basis of the 4th movement.[76][77] He then releasedHalelu—Songs of David; Cantata for Peace (2007), in which he was accompanied by Lee, theRa'anana Symphony Orchestra, and members of the Philharmonia Chorus of Israel.[68]
D'Or sang forMartin Luther King III at a Middle East Peace Initiative (MEPI) Conference in the summer of 2007 inTel Aviv. King was in tears as D'Or finished his rendition of "Summertime", and the crowd was on its feet cheering. King was so moved that he extended an invitation to D'Or to sing at the 2008 "Realize the Dream" celebration honoring King's birthday at the Covenant AvenueBaptist Church inHarlem, New York – the last church in New York City thatMartin Luther King Jr., spoke at prior to his1968 assassination. D'Or obliged with a performance of "Amazing Grace" before a crowd including former PresidentBill Clinton and Dr. King who was reduced to tears.[7][12]
He also performed in the 2007WOMAD (World of Music, Arts and Dance) festival concert, and in reviewing his performanceBBC Radio referred to his voice as "sensational".[78] D'Or described an experience that he had singing at the festival as follows: "I had a concert in the Canary Islands...in the WOMAD Festival in front of something like 20,000 people, and then I saw just in front of me, a group of Palestinian young people with a huge Palestinian flag. And at the beginning I was very tense because I didn't know what their intentions were. I closed my eyes and said 'Look, you speak always about the power of music and how music can get people close to each other', and I was like aiming to their heart, and I'm singing especially for them, and then when I opened my eyes and I saw those people dancing with the Palestinian flag and singing with me together, and it was for me like an amazing sight, because this is something that I don't think ever happened before. I don't know why this world...is choosing...always...war and hate, because things are much easier to solve if you just want to solve them, that's what I feel. And maybe it's naïve, but this is my belief."[12]
On December 11, 2007, D'Or releasedLive Concert.[79] D'Or composed most of the songs on the album, which included "Kiss from a Rose" (in English), "Sri Lanka" (instrumental), and anArabic song.[46]
In 2008, D'Or also releasedShirat Rabim ("Prayers", or"Songs of the Many"—"A World Prayer; The Jewish Project of David D'Or and Patric Sabag"), a collection of prayers that he had originally heard from his father, and which he focused on when he started attending synagogue to saykaddish after his father's death. The album went gold in just three weeks.[12][80][15][81] He also performed in all the 2008 WOMAD festival concerts, including in London withPeter Gabriel, the founder of the world music festival,[82] and won the WOMAD "Favorite of the Audience" Award,[14][82] though one reviewer wrote that "his reverb-drenched voice can sound bombastic, even when he is praying for peace. He is more successful when...in dance-pop".[83] His performance of the song "Lecha D'odi" is featured on the compilation albumWomad New Zealand 2008, which was released on June 2, 2008, byShock Records.[84][85] The year was capped when D'Or became anIsrael Cultural Excellence Foundation ("IcExcellence") chosen artist in 2008, receiving one of Israel's highest recognitions for excellence in the arts.[86]
In 2008 and 2009, D'Or performed in a series of "Voice of Love"charity concerts for theTzu Chi Foundation in the United States (New York, San Francisco, San Jose, Pasadena, Los Angeles, Chicago, Dallas, New Jersey, and Washington, D.C.) and Asia (the Philippines and Taiwan), and recorded a CD and DVD by the same name, donating all of the profits to charity.[87][88] The CD has since gone platinum.[citation needed] The foundation works to improve social and community services, medical care, education, andhumanism in Taiwan and around the world. By helping others, D’Or said, the foundation, whileBuddhist and not Jewish, is involved in the spirit of the Jewish concept oftikun olam, or "repairing the world". "We believe that all humanity is connected in a way", said D'Or.[89]
D'Or sang a medley including "Amazing Grace" and a rendition of the traditional Hebrew melody "Avinu Malkeinu" at New York'sApollo Theater in Harlem on April 28, 2009, with three New Yorkgospel choirs.[90][91]
In May 2009 D'Or sang, along withDudu Fisher and the "Arab-Jewish Girl's Choir", forPope Benedict XVI inJerusalem at the home ofIsraeli PresidentShimon Peres as the Pope visited Israel.[92][93][94]
D'Or's voice has a range (or "diapason") of more than four octaves.[18][36][95] His vocal range inhead voice is from G3 inscientific pitch notation, up to a well-defined G5 (as heard in one of the final notes in the "Phantom of the Opera" track in his albumDavid D'Or and the Philharmonic), thus making him a "mezzo-soprano" type ofcountertenor.[96]
D'Or's voice is unusually versatile and flexible,[9][36] and notable for its unique tone and color,[97] and for having a very recognizable sound. His voice is characterized by powerful fullness and richness, making it seem as though it is his natural singing voice, created without use of thefalsetto technique. However, despite its richness his voice cannot be compared to the color of acontralto, unlike singers such asDavid Daniels, given that D'Or has a unique, male-soundingtimbre. When he sings in modern fashion, he employs hisspeaking—or chest—voice, instead of his singing,alto voice.[3][96] D'Or has been compared to ItaliantenorAndrea Bocelli ( but with a Middle Eastern flavor),[98] and his voice has been described as having the smoothness ofJack Johnson overlaid with the falsetto style ofJeff Buckley.[99]
In addition to singing for two Popes, D'Or has also sung for Israeli PresidentShimon Peres, Italian PresidentGiorgio Napolitano, KingBhumibol Adulyadej of Thailand, the King and Queen of Sweden at the Swedish Royal Palace inStockholm,Nelson Mandela,Tony Blair, andBill Clinton.[7][8][9][21]
D’Or has performed with theIsrael Philharmonic Orchestra, theJerusalem Symphony Orchestra, the Rome Philharmonic, theLondon Symphony,[19] theVienna Philharmonic Orchestra, theBudapest Philharmonic, theChina Philharmonic Orchestra, theSingapore Symphony Orchestra, theBelgrade Philharmonic Orchestra,[18] theNew York Symphony Orchestra, theLas Vegas Philharmonic Orchestra, and theBaltimore Symphony Orchestra.[21][31]
D'Or has performed across the world, including in the United States, England, theCanary Islands, Sweden, Germany, Poland, Austria, Hungary,Serbia, Italy,Turkey, India,Thailand, Australia, China,Taiwan, Singapore, thePhilippines,Morocco, and Israel. He sang before audiences of 55,000 people inTrafalgar Square in London, and 40,000 in Paris.[14][21][100][101]
In 2025, an anti-Israel protestor splashed D'Or with red paint while he was singing a prayer for peace at theFestival of Jewish Culture in Warsaw.[102][103][104]
D'Or means "golden" or "of gold" in French, and in Francophone countries he is referred to as "golden David" or "David of gold".[citation needed]
| Year | Title | (English) | IFPI Israel Certification | Label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | David D'Or | "David D'Or" | Platinum[36] | Hed Arzi |
| 1993 | Begovah Mishtaneh | "Changing Altitudes", or "Changing Heights" | Double Platinum[citation needed] | Hed Arzi |
| 1995 | David & Shlomo | "David and Salomon" | Platinum[36] | Hed Arzi |
| 1997 | David D’Or & Etti Ankri | "David D’Or & Etti Ankri" | Double Platinum[citation needed] | Hed Arzi |
| 2001 | Baneshama | "In the Soul" | Platinum[36] | SISU |
| 2003 | David D’Or VehaPhilharmonic | "David D’eor & the Philharmonic; Live Concert" | Platinum[citation needed] | Aviv |
| 2004 | Le Haamin | "To Believe" | Platinum[citation needed] | SISU |
| 2006 | Kmo HaRuach | "Like the Wind" | Gold[citation needed] | SISU |
| 2007 | Ofa'a Haia | "Live Concert" | Platinum[citation needed] | Hed Arzi |
| 2007 | Halelu—Shirim Shel David; Cantata LeShalom | "Halelu—Songs of David; Cantata for Peace" | — | Hed Arzi |
| 2008 | Shirat Rabim | "Prayers", or "Songs of the Many—A World Prayer" | Gold[14] | Hed Arzi |
| 2008 | 聽見愛的聲音 | "Voice of Love" | Platinum[citation needed] | Da Jung Jang |
| Awards and achievements | ||
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| Preceded by | Israel in the Eurovision Song Contest 2004 | Succeeded by |
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| Other | |
