The Thirteenth Child is a new opera in two acts, with music by Poul Ruders to a libretto by Becky & David Starobin. Commissioned by The Santa Fe Opera and the Odense Symfoniorkester, the libretto is an adaptation of the Brothers Grimm story, "The Twelve Brothers". The recording, made in Denmark and the USA, brings Ruders's gripping 80-minute score vividly to life, and is being released by Bridge Records in tandem with the world premiere staging of The Thirteenth Child by the Santa Fe Opera in July and August of 2019. The recording features soprano Sarah Shafer as Princess Lyra; mezzo-soprano Tamara Mumford as Queen Gertrude; bass-baritone Ashraf Sewailam as Drokan; bass Matt Boehler as King Hjarne; tenor David Portillo as Benjamin; tenor Alasdair Kent as Prince Frederic and Toke, and bass Alex Rosen as Corbin. The Odense Symfoniorkester and the Bridge Academy Singers are conducted by David Starobin and Benjamin Shwartz, with Amber Evans, chorus master. The Thirteenth Child is Poul Ruders's fifth opera. The 70 year old Danish composer is well known for his gripping dystopian opera, The Handmaid's Tale. The Thirteenth Child shares some of the dark world of The Handmaid's Tale, but also gives the listener a fairytale, full of romance, magic and transformation.

Tracklist:

The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Drokan's Warning
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Our House Endures
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: The Softest Spoken
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: What Is This Madness?
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Lilies, Red As Blood
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: The Night Air Groans
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: The Trembling Of The Earth
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Interlude I
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Hjarne's Funeral
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Interlude II
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: 12 Brothers
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: The Lilies Of Frohagord
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Interlude III
The Thirteenth Child, Act I: Oh, Mother
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: The Forest
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: Food Song
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: A Riddle
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: My Secret
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: The Spell
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: Interlude IV
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: Light & Shadows
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: Frederic's Return
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: Keep My Beloved Safe
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: Fierce Winds Of Change
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: The Lilies Bloom
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: The Shadows Lift
The Thirteenth Child, Act II: Together We Will Heal

UPC: 090404952722
Label: Bridge
Release Date: 6.21.19
Format: CD

Ruders / Odense Symphony Orch / Evans - Thirteenth Child (CD)