Staggerwing....the opera?

[JohnB]

I'll go out on a limb and say that not many operas are named after aircraft (and a warbird, remember the UC-43/GB/JB and RAF Traveler?).

Well, in 2021 Opera Kansas is produced a new opera, Staggerwing.
It tells the story of Louise Thaden and Blanche Noyes winning the 1936 Bendix Trophy air race in a Beech C17. Noteably, it was the first year women were accepted as entrants, and they won the race setting a new record flying between New York and LA in 14 hours 55 minutes. They won the $7000 first prize.
Ironically, Branch's pilot husband, Dewey, was killed in the crash of a C17 he was flying for the Ethyl corporation the year before.

The music was written by Lisa DeSpain with lyrics by Rachel Peters.
It won a modern opera competition in 2020.

Here is a link to the song "[i]Staggerwing Beechcraft C17" [/] sung by the character of Walter Beech. The woman seen with his is portraying his wife (and successor in running Beech) Olive Ann.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=W_DLma5zxLw

There are several songs from the performance on YouTube, If interested you can find them with a internet search.

I learned about this when the museum I volunteer at had a family of visitors from Wichita. They were very knowledgeable about our Travel Air and Staggerwing and associated with the Opera and are friends with a member of the Beech family.

I was surprised to say the least. I've been to the Met and listen to their performances on the radio and occasionally see their performances in a HD broadcast at the movie theater.
Still, an opera named after an airplane comes close to a "now I've seen everything" moment.

[Stoney]

had lunch with Olive Ann in 74' and she is very slim.

[JohnB]

had lunch with Olive Ann in 74' and she is very slim.

I agree. Olive Ann looked like Olive Oyl from Popeye.

A friend restored an award winning pre-war Staggerwing. In his workshop he has a framed letter from her dated in the '40s where she answered someone's request for sales information. She signed it "O.A. Beech", which masked her gender at a time when female executives were rare.

As you can see in the video, the women playing Thaden and Noyes are small. The old stereotype of ummm..."plus sized" opera performers is s bit outdated.