WOMAD

David D'Or

From Israel

Eclectic singer mining ancient roots

The holy songs and ancient chants of Israeli singing star David D'Or represent only one aspect of an extraordinary performing career that began in a military band and has proceeded via pop stardom and a spell as an operatic counter-tenor. Having turning down a tempting offer from the New York Met, D'Or decided instead to go in search of his roots. And coming from a family of Libyan Jewish cantors expelled from Spanish Andalusia during the Inquisition, his root-searching led him to uncover a unique trove of music that can be traced back to the prayers and chants sung by the Levites in Jerusalem's Holy Temple centuries ago. Backed by a young, virtuoso band drawn from North Africa, the Balkans and the Middle East, he's crafted the material into a show of striking emotion and energy. Listen out in particular for the shofar, a traditional ram's horn blown on Jewish holy days "to open the sky ". And the pop star bit? Well it's not often that WOMAD hosts a Eurovision entrant: David represented Israel in the 2004 contest...

www.daviddor.com

Biog by Nigel Williamson