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".
| The Thirteenth Child | |
|---|---|
| Opera by Poul Ruders | |
| Librettist | Becky Starobin, David Starobin |
| Language | English |
| Based on | "The Twelve Brothers" by Brothers Grimm |
| Premiere | 27 July 2019 |
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
editThe 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
edit| 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
edit2 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
edit- 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b "Ruders: The Thirteenth Child". Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b c Ruders, Poul (13 September 2017). "Ruders: The Thirteenth Child". issuu.com. Edition Wilhelm Hansen. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ 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.
