Boston, MA
Stitching together lost histories in ‘The Wanderer’s Tethering’ – The Boston Globe
Since the beginning of 2023, Boston has hosted a bounty of performances of concert pieces and operas written to honor forgotten — some would say erased — episodes in American history. The stories of civil rights activist Octavius Catto, abolitionist Harriet Jacobs, and enslaved Islamic scholar Omar ibn Said have all been retold in music.
The latest in this string of forgotten histories is the legend of a group of African people who, in 1803, seized control of the slave ship transporting them from the auction block in Savannah to plantations in the Georgia Sea Islands, and walked into water rather than live enslaved. Their spirits haunt “The Wanderer’s Tethering,” a new piece by Boston-based composer Mason Bynes and librettist Porsha Olayiwola, the city’s poet laureate.
The precise details of the Igbo Landing revolt have been lost to time, and primary sources are patchy, but the generally accepted outline goes as such: Around 75 West Africans of the Igbo ethnic group were taken captive and transported across the Atlantic Ocean, where they were sold as slaves in Savannah. They were then packed onto a smaller ship to be transported to plantations. During the voyage, they took control of the ship and drowned their captors.
What happened next depends on who’s telling the story. Some say they walked into the swamp together and drowned; others said they tried to walk on the water; still others tell that they flew home to Africa. The legend of the “flying Africans” has been intermittently reimagined and reinterpreted by Black artists from Toni Morrison to Beyoncé and now Bynes and Olayiwola, who with “Wanderer’s Tethering” straddle the line between past and present, realism and magical realism.
“Tethering,” commissioned by Boston Lyric Opera, is not a staged opera. However, on Sunday at Roxbury’s Hibernian Hall, it felt more like an operatic monodrama than a song cycle in the vein of “Winterreise.” In her pre-performance remarks, Bynes described it as a “quilt,” stitching together aspects of African and African American experiences. The central character — sung with incandescent grace by soprano Brianna J. Robinson — is called Tobi, after an apocryphal name of a wise leader of the Igbo Landing rebels. “I was named after a man who could fly,” she sang in the fifth and longest movement.
Bynes, who was mentored by “Omar” composer Rhiannon Giddens, clearly knows how to compose for voices. Robinson’s melodic lines had an elegant, unforced rhythm to them, almost as if being thought out loud in the moment. Olayiwola’s libretto easily flowed between the concrete and the abstract, and her experience as a spoken-word poet likely helped the libretto avoid the almost unsingable turns of phrase that pepper so many other contemporary pieces.
Some movements described specific events, while others meditated on the landscape of Dunbar Creek, where the Igbo Landing rebels vanished into the water. Some layered Robinson’s singing with Olayiwola’s spoken poetry, delivered in a deep contralto that melded naturally into the texture of the score, as performed by the soprano and a string quartet from Castle of Our Skins.
The quartet also performed a few short pieces as a prelude to “Tethering,” effectively setting the scene with three contrapuntal arrangements of Black American folk songs by Florence Price, Trevor Weston’s percussive and spiky “Juba,” and Jesse Montgomery’s dense, hypnotic “Source Code.”
But “Tethering” was the lodestone of the program, and the final movement to be performed (listed as movement 9 of 10 on the program) was the most intense, with Olayiwola narrating alone as the string quartet sawed through a long, visceral crescendo. Like the legend, the piece ended without resolution.
THE WANDERER’S TETHERING
Presented by Boston Lyric Opera. At Hibernian Hall, Roxbury. June 18. www.blo.org
A.Z. Madonna can be reached at az.madonna@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @knitandlisten.
Boston, MA
How to Watch Orlando Magic at Boston Celtics on Friday, January 17
BOSTON – The Orlando Magic and Boston Celtics do battle for the second time this season Friday evening. Tipoff between the two Eastern Conference foes is at 7 p.m. ET from TD Garden.
Each team will be looking to bounce back after uncharacteristic losses. But, one team will be much healthier when attempting to do so.
On the front end of this chilly Northern road trip, the Magic handled by the Milwaukee Bucks by 29 points Wednesday night in Milwaukee. They’ll be without three of their top four scorers and five total rotational players in looking to wash the taste of that contest away.
Boston went north of the border to Toronto and dropped their Wednesday outing by 13 points. The Celtics report no injuries ahead of Friday’s bout.
Regarding this season’s series, Orlando (23-19) took the first matchup over Boston (28-12). Friday’s nationally televised matchup is the second of three this year between the two teams.
Who: Orlando Magic (23-19, 5th in East) at Boston Celtics (28-12, 2nd in East)
What: NBA Regular Season Game
When: Friday, January 17, 7 p.m. ET
Where: TD Garden, Boston, Massachusetts
TV: ESPN, FanDuel Sports Network Florida, NBCS Boston
Radio: 96.9 The Game, Orlando Magic Audio Network, SiriusXM
Point Spread: Milwaukee -6
Last Meeting: Orlando 108, Boston 104 on 12/23/24
Orlando Magic
Boston Celtics
Jamahl Mosley, Orlando Magic: Mosley tipped off his fourth NBA season as a head coach this season, all of which having come with the Magic. He’s 126-162 in the regular season all-time. Before Mosley was named the head coach of the Magic, he was an assistant with Dallas, Cleveland, and Denver. He’s a Colorado alum, and played four years of professional basketball in Mexico, Australia, Finland and South Korea.
Joe Mazzulla, Boston Celtics: Mazzulla, 36 years old, mans the sidelines for his third season as the Celtics’ coach this year. In each of his first two seasons, Boston finished atop the Eastern Conference. They hoisted the Larry O’Brien trophy a historic 18th time this past June after his team cruised through the playoffs in just 19 games (16-3). Prior to taking over as head coach, the former West Virginia Mountaineer was an assistant on the Celtics bench for three seasons. He’s regarded as one of the brightest, young polarizing minds in the game. today
Follow ‘Orlando Magic on SI‘ on Facebook and like our page. Follow Magic beat reporter Mason Williams on Twitter/X @mvsonwilliams. Also, bookmark our homepage so you never miss a story.
Boston, MA
State plans to overhaul the Arborway in Boston, remove rotary
BOSTON — The Arborway is home to nature. The Arboretum along the road is no stranger to ponds and amphibians, so it’s fitting that crossing the street feels like a game of Frogger. The state has taken notice and has a proposal to overhaul the entire thoroughfare.
Neighbors hope for changes
“You are definitely taking your life in your own hands trying to cross this road. There are a lot of crashes right here because you have four lanes going into one,” said Ed Narenkivicius, a dog walker who’s lived here for 25 years. “The current model isn’t working, so hoping for anything with common sense.”
Out of the 13 intersections on the Arborway, only two are signaled, which means at 11 of them, pedestrians have to wait for the cars to stop to cross. With multiple lanes, people can be waiting a while or choose to risk it to run across.
“I don’t use a crosswalk that doesn’t have a signal, and the ones up here are just flashing yellow. I wait until cars stop,” said Narenkivicius.
“It is challenging at times. We have to dodge cars from time to time or wait,” said Heidi Blake, another neighbor out walking her dog. “As a driver, I have seen cars run into one another, and very dodgy entrances and exits.”
Blake is onto something. She’s lived here for 10 years, and studies back up her fears. Over the last five years, there have been more than 100 sideswipe crashes at both Murray and Kelley Circle.
“You can see the sideswipe crashes are clustered and concentrated near the entrances and exits to the circle,” said Project Manager Teren Wong while showcasing data during a public meeting online.
Two traffic circles removed
In response, the state is working to overhaul the entire Arborway by doing away with both circles altogether. Bike and pedestrian lanes will be added, as well as reducing the number of pedestrian crossings. The ones that remain will be signaled. The proposal increases green space as well.
Many of the people we spoke with were in favor change, but skeptical of the current design. During the public meeting this week, one Pondside neighborhood resident worried the new design will make it difficult to access his street.
“You’ve got to think about this seriously, and you’ve got to resolve it because this is not going to stand,” the resident said.
The proposal is still being tweaked. They hope to have it finalized by 2026.
Boston, MA
Explore The Luxurious Side Of Massachusetts At This Year’s Boston Wine And Food Festival
Equipped with a lengthy coastline and a fishing culture that dates back centuries, Massachusetts has earned widespread acclaim for its world-class seafood scene—but that’s not all that this historic state has to offer. In addition to being the birthplace of beloved baked goods like the Boston cream pie and chocolate chip cookie, the commonwealth also boasts one of the finest dining scenes in all of New England. During a visit to the capital city of Boston, tourists can discover all sorts of polished bars and prestigious restaurants within city limits, and for a truly lavish experience, there’s no beating the Boston Wine and Food Festival.
First launched in 1989, this esteemed affair is set to return for its 36th iteration this year, with no shortage of elevated drinking and dining experiences taking place within the city’s world-class Boston Harbor Hotel. As one of the longest food and drink-focused events in the nation, the Boston Wine and Food Festival spans from late January until the final week of March, with festivities officially kicking off on January 31st at Opening Night. Taking place in the Harbor Hotel’s opulent Wharf Room, this lively event invites guests to sample more than 100 different wines sourced from all across the globe, all while enjoying live music and bites crafted by Executive Chef David Daniels.
After Opening Night, festival participants can look forward to twenty wine-focused events taking place throughout February and March, many of which shine a spotlight on the natural bounty of both California and Western Europe. For a deep dive on the agricultural history of France’s Rhône Valley, the Châteauneuf-du-Pâpe Dinner is the perfect event, while concepts like The Tuscan Sun Dinner and Marchesi di Barolo Dinner are ideal for discovering the rich array of wines that hail from the Italian peninsula.
When it comes to specific varieties of wine, the festival offers curated master classes focusing on Nebbiolo, Champagne and rosé, but for those in search of a particularly romantic experience, it’s tough to beat Valentines on the French Riviera. Taking place on February 14th, this intimate affair invites participants to enjoy a private dinner under the golden glow of candlelight, with seven refined wines from the French Riviera served alongside flavorful Mediterranean fare.
While the Boston Wine and Food Festival is particularly elegant all on its own, its host hotel is offering an opportunity for guests to elevate their experience with The Presidential Burgundy Experience. Taking place on March 21st, this grandiose event provides up to eight participants with an opportunity to bask in the beauty of the property’s Presidential Suite—a 4,800-square-foot space that comes complete with a private elevator, open-air terrace and floor-to-ceiling windows—and enjoy a sommelier-led Burgundy tasting experience and lavish, six-course dinner prepared by Chef David Daniels.
During the Presidential Burgundy Experience, guests can also take advantage of the full-service open bar available all throughout the meal, while the following morning brings the opportunity to enjoy an elegant brunch served in the comfort of the suite. And to sweeten the deal, a stay at the Boston Harbor Hotel also allows guests to pay a visit to Rowes Wharf Sea Grille—a top spot for lobster, oysters and clam chowder—without having to step outdoors and brave the winter weather.
While Massachusetts has long been renowned for its thriving seafood scene, the Boston Wine and Food Festival highlights far more than just the Bay State, with no shortage of acclaimed restaurateurs gathering to pay homage to the world’s most esteemed wineries. From Hollywood-inspired dinners to deep dives on the world of Pinot Noir, this lauded festival grants guests an opportunity to enjoy the elevated ambiance of the city at its very best—and with winter in full swing, the Boston Wine and Food Festival provides the perfect opportunity to escape the cold and immerse yourself in the flavors of Napa, Tuscany or the French Riviera for a truly unforgettable night.
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