The Thirteenth Child

The Thirteenth Child
Opera by Poul Ruders
LibrettistBecky Starobin, David Starobin
LanguageEnglish
Based on"The Twelve Brothers"
by Brothers Grimm
Premiere
27 July 2019 (2019-07-27)
Santa Fe Opera

The Thirteenth Child is an English-language opera in two acts, composed by Danish composer Poul Ruders in 2016, to a libretto by Ruders's manager Becky Starobin and her husband, guitarist David Starobin. The opera, Ruders fifth, is inspired by the fairytale "The Twelve Brothers".

Prior to being performed on stage, the opera was recorded for the Starobin family's Bridge Records label.[1]

The premiere production was commissioned by Santa Fe Opera and the Odense Symfoniorkester.[2]

Performance history

The opera premiered on 27 July 2019 at Santa Fe Opera. Paul Daniel conducted the staging by Darko Tresnjak, the set was designed by Alexander Dodge, costumes designed by Rita Ryack, lighting design by York Kennedy, projection design by Aaron Rhyne, chorus master was Susanne Sheston.

Roles

Roles, voice types, premiere cast
Role[3] Voice type[3] Premiere cast, 27 July 2019
Conductor: Paul Daniel[4]
King Hjarne of Frohagord paranoid bass David Leigh
Queen Gertrude of Frohagord tragic contralto Tamara Mumford
Lyra, Princess of Frohagord innocent soprano Jessica E. Jones
Frederic, Prince of Hauven proud tenor Joshua Dennis
Drokan, Regent of the kingdom of Hauven scheming bass-baritone Bradley Garvin
Benjamin, youngest Prince of Frohagord good-hearted tenor Billy Bruley
Corbin, eldest Prince of Frohagord worried bass David Leigh
Toke, second eldest Prince worried tenor Anthony Ciaramitaro

Instrumentation

2 clarinets, 2 saxophones, 2 bassoons, 4 horns in F, 2 trumpets in B♭, 2 trombones, tuba, 2 percussion sections, harp, piano, 3 synthesizers, 10 violins, 8 violas, 6 cellos, 2 double bass.[3]

Recording

  • 2019 Odense Symphony Orchestra, Bridge Academy Singers, soprano Sarah Shafer (Lyra), mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford (Queen Gertrude), bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam (Drokan), bass Matt Boehler (King Hjarne), tenor David Portillo (Benjamin), tenor Alasdair Kent (Prince Frederic, Toke), bass Alex Rosen (Corbin). Conductors: David Starobin, Benjamin Shwartz (Bridge 9527)[2]

References

  1. ^ Kozinn, Allan (19 July 2019). "A Rarity for Poul Ruders: A Feel-Good Opera". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 8 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  2. ^ a b "Ruders: The Thirteenth Child". Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  3. ^ a b c Ruders, Poul (13 September 2017). "Ruders: The Thirteenth Child". issuu.com. Edition Wilhelm Hansen. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  4. ^ Sohre, James (5 August 2019). "The Thirteenth Child: When She Was Good..." Opera Today. Archived from the original on 28 September 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.