Vermillion, S.D. – South Dakota Public Broadcasting (SDPB) is proud to broadcast the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra’s landmark performance of Giants in the Earth, the opera inspired by Ole Edvart Rølvaag’s celebrated novel about immigrant life on the prairie.
Douglas Moore's Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Giants in the Earth brings to life the struggles, hopes, and enduring spirit of homesteaders who carved out a new existence on the Great Plains. The performance showcases the artistry and power of the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, under the leadership of Music Director Delta David Gier, and highlights the state’s cultural heritage through music and storytelling.
The broadcast will air on SDPB Television Thursday, October 23 at 7:00 p.m. Central, 6:00 Mountain Time. Audiences can also stream the performance live or on-demand at SDPB.org.
“Sharing the story of Giants in the Earth with a statewide audience continues SDPB’s mission to connect South Dakotans with the arts, culture, and history that shape our identity,” said Julie Overgaard, Executive Director of SDPB. “This broadcast is both a celebration of our shared past and a showcase of the talent within our state.”
The performance features the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Chorus directed by Dr. Timothy J. Campbell, with stage direction by Robert Neu. The three-act opera is in English and performed for the first time in over 50 years.
“'Giants in the Earth is rooted in this very place. There's clearly a real connection between Giants and many of those who call South Dakota home,” commented South Dakota Symphony Orchestra Music Director Delta David Gier. “When I learned of Moore’s opera, it seemed destined that our orchestra bring this work back to life... It is our hope that the Moore’s Giants in the Earth can now be seriously considered by others for future productions.”
Accompanying the performance is a program about the significance of Ole E. Rølvaag’s novel and how it inspired the opera. Hosted by SDPB’s Lori Walsh, Discussing Giants in the Earth will air on SDPB TV Thursday, October 16 at 8:00 p.m. Central, 7:00 Mountain, and will be repeated Tuesday, October 21 at 11:00 p.m. Central, 10:00 Mountain.
SDPB’s broadcast of Giants in the Earth is supported by the Berdahl family, whose family history helped inspire Ole Rolvaag’s acclaimed novel; Augustana University; the Norwegian American Historical Association; and by a grant from the South Dakota Arts Council. The South Dakota Arts Council support is provided with funds from the State of South Dakota, through the Department of Tourism, and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information, visit SDPB.org.
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Media Contact:
Fritz Miller
Director of Programming & Communications
South Dakota Public Broadcasting
605-202-0286
[email protected]