Eleanor Roosevelt
 
Long before Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton, there was Eleanor Roosevelt—another human being caught in the crosshairs between the old world and a New Deal; between war and peace; between passion and duty; between a man’s world and her own; between apathy and courage; between poverty and health care; between bigotry and freedom; between heroes and veterans; between the old view of the US and a better, improved one; and between being lesser partner and world role model.
 
The Opera, Eleanor, based on Rhoda Lerman’s one-woman play, tells the fascinating and strangely parallel story of a world almost a century away that looks uncannily like our own in the 21st century. As seen through Eleanor’s eyes, we a find a USA struggling to promote peace, prosperity, equality, dignity, and respect for all, after the fall-out from some very troublesome times.
 
Eleanor Roosevelt was a role model who rose out of an old world passing away—her husband’s life; her own humiliation at his hands; her ignorance of war’s reality; a lack of code for humane treatment of troops in battle, veterans, mothers, and children; an end to bigotry and religious bias; and a USA that needed a new image—to a new world coming.
 
Just as we have today courageous heroes tempered by their own hard times, so, too, was Eleanor Roosevelt. And in an operatic world where women characters are relegated to stereotypical roles as "angels" or "whores"—victims in either case—here is a refreshing new role for a woman: intelligent, betrayed, unsupported, and alone, but accomplished. A woman who rose to become a world leader and model for all following her today, as she even now lives on in her own writings, biographies, dramas, and now ... an opera!
 

Eleanor Roosevelt

“‘Eleanor Roosevelt’, an opera in two acts, garnered a warm reception at the Saturday world premiere produced by Society for New Music. A strong cast, simple but authentic sets, and an excellent chamber orchestra—conducted by Heather Buchman—combined to create uniformly high-quality entertainment and a glimpse into early 20th Century American history through a woman who forged pathways of justice, opportunity and equality. Composer Persis Parshall Vehar’s talent is matched by her wisdom, which she demonstrated by not attempting to cover the entire lifetime accomplishments of Eleanor Roosevelt (1884-1962) ... Her (Eleanor’s) subtle comic lines garnered spontaneous and genuine laught ... One of the strongest moments was Moriaty’s closing solo in Act 1 after she met three French widows, saw (as the audience sees through projections of WW 1 images) the trenches and the burial ground of slaughtered men, and understood the ravages of war ... Vehar’s music built throughout this scene to the culminating declaration that ‘all human beings are born free and equal’ ... ’Eleanor Roosevelt’ is an artistic look at some of the personal struggles of a significant public figure. In exploring and celebrating the vibrant and visionary woman she was, Vehar, librettist Gabrielle Vehar, and all who worked on the production, help save Eleanor from the fate of so many other historical personalities: that of being represented as just a name and a few lines in a textbook.”

“The premiere of a new opera based on the life of Eleanor Roosevelt by Persis Vehar drew near capacity crowds to a pair of performances at the Carrier Theater in Syracuse last weekend. In the title role, soprano Bridget Moriarty vividly recreated the character of one of the most significant American women in the 20th century, as brought to life in the libretto by Gabrielle Vehar, and in the wonderfully melodic and transparently orchestrated score, by composer Persis Vehar, in which every word of the text was intelligible.”

Emily D

“For Earth, For Heaven has the feel of a future salon favorite. It was sheerly exquisite. There was instant audience response with appreciative applause.”

From Buk’s Battered Heart

“Vehar’s ability to create seamless dramatic continuity from (Bukowski’s) material borders on mystical ... Vehar’s music should take its deserved place in the repertoire.”

“In the soft-edged pieces, a revealing tenderness lurked.”

Peace Requiem

“Requiem aeternam modulating upward on three chords, has a strikingly heart warming effect, radiating optimism.”

Bukowski: Blood, Guts & Tears

“The set of songs deserves repeated listenings.”

Sound-Piece for Organ

“Vehar continues to be a composer unafraid to try new ideas, to be different, but with a comfortable framework of accessibility for the listener.”

George Sand...And Chopin?

“Vehar never falters as she creates a warp speed of drama, emotional contrast, and character development within a musical atmosphere capable of both subtle and dramatic shifts as determined by the text ... This work provides gorgeous, intimate music for each character to sing, yet there are moments of dramatic emotional distress, humorous satire and rhythmically challenging duets that leave one almost breathless with excitement.”

“The concluding duet can make a listener laugh out loud in delight.”

City of Light

“In addition to the concerto, clarinetists will be excited to hear many new pieces for their instrument ... the Jukebox Dances for clarinet and piano will garner immediate popularity ... Ms. Vehar’s description of the “Tango for Two-Left Feet” adds to the humor inherent in the music ... City of Light is full of more than 70 minutes of music, and, despite the fact that it is music by one composer, the pieces are varied and everyone should find something that appeals to them. This is a well-produced disc of excellent performances and is definitely recommended.”

City of Light Concerto for clarinet & orchestra

“In the composer’s ingenius intellectual approach, there are very gratifying touches including sotto voce circling figures in the first movement, the solo clarinet’s Gregorian chant to open the second, some superb pianissimo passages and the close of the concerto where a high clarinet tone pulls the orchestra up into a satisfying E-flat major chord.”

Sound-Piece for Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Piccolo Trumpet & Piano

“It is at once jazzy and pointillistic. Both serious and tongue-in-cheek, it integrates a wide and divergent array of melodic material into a cogently worked out essay.”

“Here, Vehar’s music has a jazz influence, but she’s no third-stream composer. Her melodic writing can be quite angular, but it does not leave a listener feeling dizzy. She admires clarity and simplicity, yet can be complex and certain passages made me think of Ives, for who simplicity and complexity were the light and dark of a day.”

L’aqua Vivaldi

“Extraordinary composer.”

“Vehar’s work was a joy ... immediately accessible ... took on the lightness that is the hallmark of Vivaldi. Like Vivaldi’s music, Vehar’s was overwhelmingly bright and unintimidating. The audience loved it.”

A Hill of Bones

“The Greater Buffalo Opera Company intends for the play to be performed in schools to promote environmental awareness and multi-cultural understanding. There is no question about either its meaning or its direction. It is a 20th-century morality play. The music is very accessible throughout, with a particularly effective section in which the parents argue. As they alternate between ‘sure’ and ‘not sure,’ the music and the argument masterfully interweave ‘sure’ harmony and ‘not sure’ dissonance.”

Spring Things

“A delightful group of three short songs for SSA chorus—their range makes these songs very suitable for young untrained voices.”

“Surely rank among the most beguilingly simple and beautiful of her bountiful oeuvre.”

In Celebration

“It made a very good first impression ... the interest sustained throughout ... rippling, roiling music.”

O Sacrum Convivium

“The seamless sound created a growing intensity without increased volume. It was very effective.”

From The Mountain-Top

“One of the highlights of the recital occurred when Kuehn and his brother, Dan Kuehn, also an accomplished trumpet player, performed From The Mountain-Top by Persis Parshall Vehar ... The overall effect was tremendous ... the work ended on a beautiful major chord in the organ bringing a hightened sense of peace and repose to this inspired piece.”

Light, Lux, Svietlo

“... expertly crafted, flows well, often on the pulse of a quirky waltz rhythm, and is structured with a palpable sense of logic.”

Inevitable Dawn

“As described in the title, there is an inevitability to the development that is no less spectacular for its expectation. There is spiritual content in this celebration that Vehar integrates naturally. It never seems superimposed.”

Sounds of the Outdoors

“This is music of lovely sounds and coherent phrases. She is a traditional melodist with a French bent, and the saxophone is a most appropriate instrument for her music. Its beauties were savored—its rich tone, range and versatility.”

4 Developments for bassoon

“An inventive work that played off of the bassoon’s jocular character without making it seem like a parody.”

“... a delight of harsh harmonies, springingl rhythms, and sonic experiments in extended techniques for both instruments. Vehar is solid in her craft—we may think about what she’s concocting, and we may trace her antecedents (Stravinsky for one, surely) but she also makes us enjoy the sound of the bassoon, and its character, which is much more that that of a clown (in a little waltz movement the bassoon is something of a dancing bear).”

Women, Women & Three from Emily

“She excels at coloristic vocal writing and tongue in cheek humor.”

String Quartet

“The second movement seems to seek a level of spirituality similar to that achieved by Beethoven in some of his great slow movements.”

Yesteryear Suite

“Modeled after the Baroque dance-suite, it is well-crafted and Vehar’s keen awareness of her models is everywhere evident, be they distant or not so distant.”

Four Attitudes

“There is much to admire here ... all in a very accessible idiom.”

Missa Brevis Pro Pace

“The music is very attractive and seemed a serendipitous program choice in these troubled times ...” (The start of the first Iraq War)

Three Renaissance Tableaux

“These are sweet, simple playful settings. It’s a modern piece in its looking back.”

Three from Emily

“Continual interplay between voice, cello and piano creates a spritely, humorous effect ... It is well written and rewarding for all performers.”

“Ashore At Last ... one of the most captivating songs to be published recently ... The effect is almost ethereal.”