Grimms' Fairy Tale number 9 is "The Twelve Brothers," a fairy tale about a king who wants to kill his twelve sons, in the event that the next child is a girl, who would lead the kingdom alone.
The Thirteenth Child, a new opera by Danish composer Poul Ruders, is set to a libretto by Becky & David Starobin, based on that fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm. The Thirteenth Child was co-commissioned by The Santa Fe Opera and the Odense Symfoniorkester. This release coincides with The Santa Fe Opera productions: July 27 (world premiere), 31, August 9, 14, 21, 2019.
Kurt Hauswirth had the chance to speak to the librettists, Becky and David Starobin, about their process working with Poul Ruders' music, what a story like this means in 2019, and the pros and cons of working together as a married couple:
"The Thirteenth Child" is out on Bridge Records, and further information can be found with the Santa Fe Opera.