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