HERSHEY FELDER
“WHAT I DON’T DO WELL, I DON’T DO”
I was at a dinner in Florence, Italy, with a few friends, and the whole evening they discussed a man named Hershey Felder. They talked about the man as musician, actor, one man show, philanthropist, and all-around good human. By the time the evening was over, I was a fan. My friend, Paola, kept telling me that I should appear in one of his films. She had seen several of my photos from various performances on stage. But don’t most of us have friends that like to really talk us up? While appreciative of her thoughts about me, I filed it away in the back of my mind and thought “How sweet is Paola!” 2 days after that dinner, I went to Luxembourg for work. Upon my return, a friend who works at the Fazioli Concert Hall in Sacile, Italy, sent me a message to ask if I was going to the performance that evening.
Boris Giltburg was to perform. I was beat from the week away and the concert was to start in twenty minutes. I told her that I wouldn’t make it, and she asked if she’d see me the following week at the concert. I told her that I had to travel again and that I wouldn’t be there the following week either. Two minutes later, I decided to go to the concert, despite my fatigue. Am I ever glad that I went!
Boris gave an outstanding performance. Normally after the concerts, I walk directly out the door, avoiding the crowd in the entryway, but this time, I decided to stand in line to get an autograph from Boris. While standing there, I felt someone staring at me. I turned to look at him, but he didn’t divert his gaze. In fact, it seemed even more intense. After a few seconds, the same thing. I finally turned to him to ask if there was a reason that he was staring. He asked me if I knew a certain Paola, to which I responded “yes” and then he pulled his COVID mask down and said, “I’m Hershey Felder.”
In the flesh! In the tiny town of Sacile! And just a week after he was the topic of conversation at our dinner! I laughed and apologized for my terse reaction to him, and he chuckled as well. He said “What are you doing HERE,’ meaning in the tiny hamlet of Sacile, and I told him that I lived here. He told me that Paola had spoken of me and mentioned that I should be in one of his films. He told me that he recognized me by my mass of white hair! More laughter. I then asked him about the film that he had just completed, THE VERDI TRAVIATA. He said that the Red-Carpet Premiere of the film would take place the following week in Florence, and he asked if I wanted to attend. Of course, I wanted to go! We laughed some more and then we took a photo together to send to Paola, who of course was tickled by the whole thing.
One week later, there I was, at the premiere of the film. Soon thereafter, I found myself as a guest at the most interesting dinner party that I have ever attended. I soon came to find out, that is how Hershey rolls! Did I mention that a few months later, he sent me an invite to be in a film that he had written? With Boris Giltburg! I still find it hard to believe the turn of events that led me to sitting down with Hershey in his Palazzo on the Grand Canal in Venice.
As a musician who brings to life many incredible composers through his one man show live performances, getting in makeup and costume and becoming that composer and performing live, the music for which they are famous, he brings that person to life. He does it so well that it made me wonder, who would be able to play the role of Hershey Felder? He thought for a moment, and then stated in his self-deprecating manner, “I don’t think there is any one crazy to enough to portray me!”
I saw firsthand evidence of that. Hershey is a non-stop dynamo who I think recharges his energy by simply breathing. I have never met anyone who works so hard. In addition to practicing numerous hours a day, he writes and directs films, runs a production company, gives voice lessons, is one heck of a chef, and he takes care of everyone around him. To be invited into his world is to understand what it means to be able to “do it all.”
We discussed that. I asked what it feels like to be able to do so many things and do them with ease. His answer was priceless. He stated, “What I don’t do well, I don’t do.” We talked about getting into character and becoming the musician/composer. Hershey shared that he gets to show off in character, but that in no way does he hide behind the roles. Hershey is quiet, he is a loner, he is friendly, and he is generous. But he admitted that being on the stage is the loneliest thing in the world. Each time we meet, I walk away with a better understanding of the man and humanitarian that he is. And true to form, again in his humble manner, he told me that delving into the life of other people is what makes his life interesting. There are many who would agree that their lives are more interesting because of having met Hershey Felder.
I was on set on the film CHOPIN AND LISZT, with Hershey portraying Franz Lizst, and the pianist Boris Giltburg portraying Fryderyk Chopin. Being on set was like being witness to life in 1849 when the action takes place. And the music from the dualling pianos – divine. All the music in the film was performed live. On the day that I was on set, I watched him direct, act, play the piano, and I even saw him putting makeup on some of the actors. Then he set up a table to feed everyone! The next morning, before shooting, Hershey went into Florence to teach a Master Class before returning to the set! He is nonstop!
Hershey has taken on the personas of George Gershwin, Fryderyk Chopin, Ludwig van Beethoven, Leonard Bernstein, Irving Berlin, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Claude Debussy, Sergei Rachmaninov, Dante Alighieri, and Giuseppe Verdi. You can check out his productions at www.hersheyfelder.net.
His latest film, THE ASSEMBLY, was recently filmed in various locations in Poland. It is the true story of Holocaust Survivor Eva Libitzky who spent her post-war life in America visiting primary and secondary schools throughout the United States. One cannot watch the film without walking away changed.
Although Hershey was born and raised in Canada, I think we can say with conviction that it is Italy that has captured his heart. He lives between Florence and Venice where he shares residences with his wife,the former Prime Minister of Canada, Kim Campbell, and their dog, Leo.
