Moore: Giants in the Earth

Douglas Moore’s opera "Giants in the Earth" receives its world premiere recording with the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra under the musical direction of Delta David Gier. Set in the barren, uninhabited plains of Dakota, the drama follows Beret and Per Hansa, whose deep love is tested by the isolation and harsh realities of pioneer life. Moore’s text-oriented vocal lines flow with natural expression, weaving short, expressive ariosi into a seamless melodic tapestry. At the heart of the story is Beret’s intricately decorated Norwegian chest, which serves as an 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 registers and builds tension as Beret makes a fateful decision amidst blizzards and profound loss. Every nuance is vividly realized, from intimate lyrical passages to the opera’s harrowing climax. This groundbreaking recording illuminates the emotional intensity, psychological depth, and lyrical beauty of a work that has long awaited its complete version, making it an essential addition for lovers of American opera. The libretto is based on the novel of the same name by Ole Edvart Rølvaag, and the opera was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Music in 1951. The South Dakota Symphony Orchestra rediscovered, recorded, and performed it again in Sioux Falls on April 26, 2025.

Douglas Moore (1893–1969) was a composer, pianist, conductor, and author. Although he created a number of operas and other stage works, only his folk opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" (1956) has remained popular to this day.