A benefit concert for underserved women fighting breast cancer with SIR SIMON RATTLE

Took place on Sunday, November 17, 2019 
Boston: Jordan Hall at New England Conservatory

Sir Simon Rattle

We were sold out!!

About the Concert

Mistral presented an unforgettable evening of symphonic music with the world-renowned conductor Sir Simon Rattle and an all-star orchestra drawn from leading orchestras and ensembles including The Philadelphia Orchestra, The Boston Symphony, The Metropolitan Opera Orchestra and others. The purpose of the benefit concert was to raise much-needed funds for underserved women facing breast cancer in Greater Boston. All the musicians, including Sir Simon, donated their services, many traveling a considerable distance.

Benefiting Organizations

Many underserved women face challenges accessing high-quality breast cancer detection, treatment and support services. Proceeds of the concert will go to three worthy benefiting organizations serving this population:

  • Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program: Addresses the health care needs, including cancer treatment, of homeless people in Greater Boston and people who need home care assistance. 11,000 homeless individuals are cared for each year.
  • Boston Breast Cancer Equity Coalition: A coalition of physicians, patient navigators, public health policy makers, advocates, researchers and patients, dedicated to addressing inequities in breast cancer mortality among women of color.
  • Greater Lawrence Family Health Center: Dedicated to improving and maintaining the health of individuals and families in the Merrimack Valley by providing a network of high-quality, comprehensive healthcare services in a culturally diverse population.

Why a Concert?

Mistral artistic director Julie Scolnik herself went through breast cancer treatments in 2005. Now, fourteen years after her last treatments and happily cancer-free, Scolnik continues to use her musical connections to raise money for women going through a similar challenge, and who are not as lucky as she was to have access to great medical and support services. This concert will also celebrate the transformative power of music, and during the evening Ms. Scolnik said a few words about the role music played in her healing process.   A video of the evening is forthcoming!

The program:

Mozart: Overture to The Marriage of Figaro
Beethoven: Adagio molto e cantabile from  Symphony No. 9
Brahms: Symphony No. 1 

This was the third in a series that Ms. Scolnik has organized in the Boston area, and the second with Sir Simon Rattle, who last conducted a breast cancer benefit concert for Scolnik in 2010, also in Jordan Hall.

Hope & Harmony Orchestra

BASSOON

Daniel Matsukawa
Catherine Chen
Emeline Chong, contra

HORN

Jeffrey Lang
Ernesto Tovar Torres
Rachel Childers
Jason Snider
Hugo A. Valverde

TRUMPET

Bruce Hall
Michael Dobrinski

TROMBONE

Ross Holcombe
John Faieta
Gabriel Langfur

TIMPANI

Harrison Honor

DIRECTOR OF CONCERT
PRODUCTION

Bob Winters

ORCHESTRA MANAGER

Margie Apfelbaum

LIBRARIAN

John Perkel
Ashton Bush