Located in the UK
Located in the USA
Located in Europe
- Poul Ruders
The Thirteenth Child (2016)
- Edition Wilhelm Hansen Copenhagen (World)
- 0.0.2(bcl.cbcl).2sx.2/4221/2perc/hp.pf.3syn/str (10.8.6.4.2) [2.2.2.2.2 amplified]
- 1 hr 30 min
- Becky and David Starobin
- 21st August 2025, Odense Concert Hall, Odense, Denmark
- 22nd August 2025, Odense Concert Hall, Odense, Denmark
Programme Note
Synopsis
Act 1, Scene 1
The neighboring Kingdoms of Frohagord and Hauven are in crisis. Following a warning by his embittered cousin Drokan, Regent of Hauven, King Hjarne of Frohagord is convinced that his twelve sons are plotting to overthrow him. The twelve princes, oblivious to their father's paranoia, play in the courtyard. The enraged King threatens the safety of his sons, telling his pregnant wife, Queen Gertrude, that she must provide him with a female heir, as "only she shall wear the crown". Gertrude calms Hjarne and they sing of the Lilies of Frohagord, magical flowers that protect the kingdom. When Benjamin, the youngest prince, innocently plucks a lily from the garden, Hjarne flies into a mad rage and strikes Gertrude. Drokan, observing the encounter, admits his love for Gertrude and feels "the trembling of the earth".
Act 1, Scene 2
Eighteen years have passed and King Hjarne has just died. At Hjarne's funeral Frederic, Drokan, and the mourners tell of the mysterious disappearance of the King's thirteen children and the shadows that haunt the kingdom. Queen Gertrude, now mortally ill, and her daughter, Princess Lyra, enter the Royal Chapel. Gertrude is repelled by the sight of Drokan, while Frederic is drawn to Lyra. Drokan plots to usurp the Kingdom of Frohagord and Frederic dreams of the day when Lyra will be his.
Act 1, Scene 3
Queen Gertrude is on her deathbed, attended by Princess Lyra. Lyra asks her mother why she was sent away. Gertrude has Lyra open a secret drawer where Lyra finds twelve shirts embroidered with the red Lilies of Frohagord. Gertrude reveals that the shirts belong to her missing brothers, who were sent to the forest, taking the lily bulbs with them. Before dying, Gertrude begs Lyra to find her brothers and heal the family's wounds. Lyra vows to find the twelve Princes.
Act 2, Scene 1
Lyra wanders through an enchanted forest, coming upon a cottage with twelve lilies in bloom. She encounters Benjamin, whom she learns is the youngest of her brothers. In the distance the older brothers are heard as they return home from a hunt. Benjamin, who fears that his brothers will seek revenge against Lyra, hides her. After his brothers assure him that they will do no harm, Benjamin reveals Lyra, much to the joy of all. Preparing for a celebratory feast, Lyra cuts the red lilies, unintentionally casting a spell that transforms her brothers into ravens. She is devastated by her tragic mistake.
Act 2, Scene 2
Queen Gertrude appears as an apparition and tells Lyra that in order for her brothers to return to human form, she must remain mute for seven years.
Act 2, Scene 3
Almost seven years have passed, and Frederic's search for Lyra is rewarded. A great wedding celebration is planned by the people of Hauven. Drokan jealously plots to destroy the couple and gain the throne of both kingdoms. Before the wedding is to take place, a violent storm threatens Hauven, sending Frederic and his men away to rescue their countrymen.
Act 2, Scene 4
In the courtyard of the castle of Hauven, Drokan accosts Lyra and demands that she marry him. When she refuses, he binds her to a bonfire. As Drokan lights it, the twelve ravens swoop down, forcing him into the fire. Suddenly, the lilies burst into bloom, returning the brothers to human form. In the battle, Benjamin is mortally wounded as he vanquishes Drokan. As he is dying, Benjamin finds peace and all sing of the restoration of hope.
Act 1, Scene 1
The neighboring Kingdoms of Frohagord and Hauven are in crisis. Following a warning by his embittered cousin Drokan, Regent of Hauven, King Hjarne of Frohagord is convinced that his twelve sons are plotting to overthrow him. The twelve princes, oblivious to their father's paranoia, play in the courtyard. The enraged King threatens the safety of his sons, telling his pregnant wife, Queen Gertrude, that she must provide him with a female heir, as "only she shall wear the crown". Gertrude calms Hjarne and they sing of the Lilies of Frohagord, magical flowers that protect the kingdom. When Benjamin, the youngest prince, innocently plucks a lily from the garden, Hjarne flies into a mad rage and strikes Gertrude. Drokan, observing the encounter, admits his love for Gertrude and feels "the trembling of the earth".
Act 1, Scene 2
Eighteen years have passed and King Hjarne has just died. At Hjarne's funeral Frederic, Drokan, and the mourners tell of the mysterious disappearance of the King's thirteen children and the shadows that haunt the kingdom. Queen Gertrude, now mortally ill, and her daughter, Princess Lyra, enter the Royal Chapel. Gertrude is repelled by the sight of Drokan, while Frederic is drawn to Lyra. Drokan plots to usurp the Kingdom of Frohagord and Frederic dreams of the day when Lyra will be his.
Act 1, Scene 3
Queen Gertrude is on her deathbed, attended by Princess Lyra. Lyra asks her mother why she was sent away. Gertrude has Lyra open a secret drawer where Lyra finds twelve shirts embroidered with the red Lilies of Frohagord. Gertrude reveals that the shirts belong to her missing brothers, who were sent to the forest, taking the lily bulbs with them. Before dying, Gertrude begs Lyra to find her brothers and heal the family's wounds. Lyra vows to find the twelve Princes.
Act 2, Scene 1
Lyra wanders through an enchanted forest, coming upon a cottage with twelve lilies in bloom. She encounters Benjamin, whom she learns is the youngest of her brothers. In the distance the older brothers are heard as they return home from a hunt. Benjamin, who fears that his brothers will seek revenge against Lyra, hides her. After his brothers assure him that they will do no harm, Benjamin reveals Lyra, much to the joy of all. Preparing for a celebratory feast, Lyra cuts the red lilies, unintentionally casting a spell that transforms her brothers into ravens. She is devastated by her tragic mistake.
Act 2, Scene 2
Queen Gertrude appears as an apparition and tells Lyra that in order for her brothers to return to human form, she must remain mute for seven years.
Act 2, Scene 3
Almost seven years have passed, and Frederic's search for Lyra is rewarded. A great wedding celebration is planned by the people of Hauven. Drokan jealously plots to destroy the couple and gain the throne of both kingdoms. Before the wedding is to take place, a violent storm threatens Hauven, sending Frederic and his men away to rescue their countrymen.
Act 2, Scene 4
In the courtyard of the castle of Hauven, Drokan accosts Lyra and demands that she marry him. When she refuses, he binds her to a bonfire. As Drokan lights it, the twelve ravens swoop down, forcing him into the fire. Suddenly, the lilies burst into bloom, returning the brothers to human form. In the battle, Benjamin is mortally wounded as he vanquishes Drokan. As he is dying, Benjamin finds peace and all sing of the restoration of hope.
Media
Scores
Excerpt Chorus Score
Excerpt Vocal Score
Score preview
Reviews
From the very beginning, the music grips one with its dark, tragic tone...both the music and its performance are excellent...this is a fascinating work that bears repeated listening
2nd June 2019
The Thirteenth Child is an unalloyed success...a threshold to the mysterious realms of the unconscious, even the astral, a place where flowers can transform into ravens in the blink of an eye. It acts as a reminder that true theatricality is alive and well; it reminds us that Ruders's chameleon ability to move between musical vernaculars, yet to speak always the truth, puts him up there with the finest of living composers. The stunning recording enables us fully to throw ourselves into this magical parallel world.
June 2019
★★★★★ An enchanting new addition to the genre of fairy-tale operas
June 2019
Discography
The Thirteenth Child - Ruders Edition Vol.14
- LabelBridge Records
- Catalogue Number9527
- ConductorDavid Starobin / Benjamin Shwarz
- EnsembleOdense Symphony Orchestra
- SoloistSarah Shafer, soprano ; Tamara Mumford, mezzo-soprano ; Ashraf Sewailam, bass-baritone ; Matt Boehler, bass ; Alasdair Kent, tenor ; David Portillo, tenor ; Alex Rosen, bass
- Released21st June 2019
New Music With Guitar Vol.10
- LabelBridge
- Catalogue Number9458
- ConductorDavid Starobin
- Released12th April 2016