Giants in the Earth (Vol. 2)

Douglas Moore’s opera Giants in the Earth receives its world premiere recording with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra under the music direction of Delta David Gier. Set on the stark, uninhabited Dakota plains, the drama follows Beret and Per Hansa, whose deep love is tested by isolation and the harsh realities of pioneer life. Moore’s text-driven vocal lines flow with natural expression, weaving short, expressive ariosos into a seamless melodic tapestry. Central to the story, Beret’s ornate Norwegian chest serves as altar, refuge, and symbol of home, underscoring the opera’s themes of memory, tradition, and human longing.

Moore’s tonal score contrasts strength and fragility through vocal ranges, building tension toward Beret’s fateful choices amid blizzards and loss. Every nuance is vividly realised, from intimate lyrical passages to the opera’s devastating climax. This landmark recording illuminates the emotional intensity, psychological depth, and lyrical beauty of a work long awaited in full, making it an essential addition for lovers of American opera. The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra excavated, engraved and revived the opera in Sioux Falls on April 26, 2025.

South Dakota Symphony Orchestra
Delta David Gier – conductor