D Moore: Giants in the Earth | Pentatone PTC5187557

D Moore: Giants in the Earth

£24.65

Label: Pentatone

Cat No: PTC5187557

Format: CD

Number of Discs: 2

Genre: Opera

Expected Release Date: 10th July 2026

Contents

Artists

Michael J Hawk (baritone)
Meredith Lustig (soprano)
Andrew Gilstrap (bass-baritone)
Sarah Nordin (mezzo-soprano)
Dylan Morrongiello (tenor)
Megan Koch (soprano)
Benjamin Dutcher (tenor)
Abby Brodnick (soprano)
Joshua Jeremiah (baritone)
Steve Pence (bass)
Peter Tuff (pantomime)
Jude Lundeby (treble)
Lucille Lundeby (soprano)
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Chorus (chorus)
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (orchestra)

Conductor

Delta David Gier

Works

Moore, Douglas

Giants in the Earth

Artists

Michael J Hawk (baritone)
Meredith Lustig (soprano)
Andrew Gilstrap (bass-baritone)
Sarah Nordin (mezzo-soprano)
Dylan Morrongiello (tenor)
Megan Koch (soprano)
Benjamin Dutcher (tenor)
Abby Brodnick (soprano)
Joshua Jeremiah (baritone)
Steve Pence (bass)
Peter Tuff (pantomime)
Jude Lundeby (treble)
Lucille Lundeby (soprano)
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Chorus (chorus)
South Dakota Symphony Orchestra (orchestra)

Conductor

Delta David Gier

About

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.

Cast:
- Per Hansa: Michael J Hawk (baritone)
- Beret Hansa: Meredith Lustig (soprano)
- Hans Olsa: Andrew Gilstrap (bass-baritone)
- Sorrine Olsa: Sarah Nordin (mezzo-soprano)
- Syvert Tonsenten: Dylan Morrongiello (tenor)
- Kjersti Tonstenten: Megan Koch (soprano)
- Henry Solum: Benjamin Dutcher (tenor)
- Dagmar: Abby Brodnick (soprano)
- A Preacher: Joshua Jeremiah (baritone)
- O'Hara: Steve Pence (bass)
- Sullivan: Peter Tuff (pantomime)
- Ola Hansa: Jude Lundeby (treble)
- Anna Hansa: Lucille Lundeby (soprano)

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