FestivalSouth® Concert Dedicated to the Memory of USM Scholars
Thu, 05/23/2024 - 11:09am | By: Jay Dean
Dr. William “Bill” Odom
Earlier this spring the Hattiesburg community lost two distinguished linguistic scholars within three weeks of each other - Dr. William “Bill” Odom and Professor Elizabeth Anglin.
Because of their intellectual contributions to the community and state, a performance of Gustav Mahler’s last symphonic work, “Das Lied von der Erde” (“The Song of the Earth”), will be performed on Saturday, June 8 at 7:30 p.m. at the Mannoni Performing Arts Center on The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) Hattiesburg campus.
Gustav Mahler is considered by many to be one of the premier composers in the history of symphonic music; “The Song of the Earth” is one of his last works. This piece has never been performed in Mississippi.
Professor Elizabeth Anglin
Dr. Odom (1939-2024) was a luminary in the realm of academia, a beacon of erudition and passion during his illustrious 50-year tenure as a professor of German and Russian at the Southern Miss School of Social Science and Global Studies. Dr. Odom was a true scholar and renaissance man who had an unparalleled commitment to teaching.
Professor Anglin (1937-2024), a distinguished Professor Emeritus at USM, was renowned for her dedication to the French language and culture. With a legacy spanning 37 years at Southern Miss, she imparted her expertise in French language and diction for opera singers, leaving an indelible mark on her students.
Also, at the concert a new painting by Hattiesburg artist Andrea Kostyal will be unveiled. Drawing profound inspiration from the poignant melodies of Gustav Mahler's final symphonic masterpiece, Das Lied von der Erde, the painting, entitled “Farewell,” delves into the profound themes of existence, mortality, and the enduring legacy of the natural world.
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