Education & Community
'Giants in the Earth' Community Events
In anticipation for the revival of Douglas Moore's Pulitzer Prize-winning opera Giants in the Earth, we're excited to share related events, thanks to participating community partners, that will both celebrate and further our knowledge on
South Dakota history.
Giants in the Earth takes place Saturday, April 26 at 7:30pm and Sunday, April 27 at 2:30pm in the
Mary W. Sommervold Hall of the Washington Pavilion.
LEARN MORE
Check frequently as new events are added throughout the concert season.
A Giant Awakening
Take a deeper dive into the journey of how Giants in the Earth was awakened, along with the work and stories of how the opera revival came to be.
Written by Keeley Ehrmantraut.
Giants in the Earth Novel: New Annotated Version
This reprinting of Giants in the Earth by Ole Edvart Rølvaag, features an updated introduction and revised annotations by Allan C. Carlson, and offers the modern reader thoughtful insights into Ole Edvart Rølvaag's beliefs and hopes about the immigrant experience in America-Norwegian or otherwise.
CLICK THE LINK TO ORDER!
This special annotated version provided by the South Dakota Historical Society Foundation
Giants in the Earth Rediscovered
Tuesday, March 11, 2025
Victor Borge Hall at the Scandinavia House
New York, NY
7:00pm
This program surveys the rediscovery of this important American opera, including excerpts from the opera sung by the two protagonists. The presentation is led by South Dakota Symphony Orchestra music director Delta David Gier, veteran stage Jay Lessenger and Bob Neu.
56th Annual Dakota Conference
Friday, April 25 - Saturday, April 26, 2025
Augustana University, Sioux Falls SD
The 56th Annual Dakota Conference focuses on topics about the history and cultures of South Dakota and the Northern Plains.
Past Events
Festival Of Books Conference
Saturday, September 21, 2024
South Dakota State University, Brookings SD
The new annotation of Giants in the Earth will be available for purchase, plus Music Director, Delta David Gier and Executive Director, Jennifer Teisinger will speak more about the book and the opera.
This event provided by the South Dakota Humanities Council
SD Historical Society History Talk
Tuesday, October 8, 2024
Virtual Event
SDSO Music Director, Delta David Gier joins Allan C. Carlson for an introduction and presentation of Giants in the Earth.
This event provided by the South Dakota State Historical Society
Minnehaha Historical Society October History Talk
Thursday, October 17, 2024
Legends at Lake Lorraine, Sioux Falls SD
SDSO's Music Director, Delta David Gier, and Executive Director, Jennifer Teisinger, will hold a panel discussion about the upcoming opera, Giants in the Earth. Learn more about it's history and why SDSO is taking on the project. Following the discussion, SDSO principal cellist, Robert Erhard, will preview the Dvorak cello concerto ahead of our November 16th concert - 'Robert Erhard Plays Dvorak'.
This event provided by Minnehaha County Historical Society
The following organizations have been champions of Giants in the Earth from the start. Each has used its institutional resources to advocate for or promote this opera:
Augustana University, Columbia University, Douglas Moore Fund for American Opera, Norwegian-American Historical Association (NAHA), Norway House, Norwegian Embassy, Norwegian Emigrant Museum, The Norwegian American Newspaper, Scandinavia House, Sons of Norway, South Dakota State Historical Society, South Dakota Historical Society Press, South Dakota Humanities Council, South Dakota Public Broadcasting, and St. Olaf College.