Composer

:

Poul Ruders

Genre

:

Opera

Compose Date

:

2015

Average_duration

:

5:05

The Thirteenth Child is an opera composed by Poul Ruders with a libretto by Becky and David Starobin. The opera was commissioned by the Santa Fe Opera and premiered on July 27, 2019. The plot is based on the fairy tale "The Twelve Brothers" by the Brothers Grimm. The story follows a queen who gives birth to twelve sons but is cursed by her jealous sister to give birth to a thirteenth child who will bring about the downfall of the kingdom. The queen and her sons are banished to a remote island, where they live in isolation for many years. The thirteenth child, a daughter named Lyra, is born and grows up on the island, unaware of her true identity. As Lyra comes of age, she begins to question her place in the world and sets out on a journey to discover the truth about her past. Along the way, she encounters a group of trolls who have been banished from their own kingdom and seeks to help them reclaim their homeland. In the end, Lyra learns the truth about her family and uses her newfound knowledge to save her kingdom from destruction. The opera is divided into two acts and features a score that blends elements of classical and contemporary music. The music is characterized by its use of dissonance and complex rhythms, as well as its incorporation of electronic sounds and percussion. The Thirteenth Child has been praised for its innovative score and imaginative staging, which includes projections and elaborate sets. The opera has been performed in several cities around the world, including Copenhagen, London, and New York. It has been hailed as a modern masterpiece and a testament to the enduring power of fairy tales.

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