On 23-25 June 2017, Chicago based musician Mark Weston joined the Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO) under the direction of Riccardo Muti on their concert grand finale spectacular, the Prologue to Mefistofele by Arrigo Boito.
Riccardo Muti led a collection of Italian Opera’s greatest masterpieces in the festive finale to the CSO’s 2016-17 season. Featuring some of the most well-known works by Giuseppe Verdi including “Va, Pensiero” from Nabucco and the famous Anvil Chorus from Il Trovatore, the concert finished each night with the magnificent Prologue from Boito’s Mefistofele, which tells the story of Faust’s deal with the devil. A long time champion of Italian Opera, in Milan, Muti was Teatro alla Scala’s Music Director from 1986 to 2005.
The Prologue to Mefistofele is in four connected sections. In the opening scene, brilliant, echoing trumpet calls (sounding from afar) accompany a chorus of angels singing in praise of God; their broad and noble theme, later repeated to great effect, anchors the entire prologue. In the second part a roguish, swaggering scherzo, Mefistofele appears and addresses God directly, wagering that he can win the soul of Faust. Next, speaking through a chorus mysticus, God accepts. Mefistofele vanishes as a chorus of cherubs begins a song of celestial joys. Finally, a grand complex of massed choruses, penitent women, cherubs, the heavenly host resumes the song of praise, rising in waves to a dazzling climax.
Mark Weston, accordionist for the performance, holds degrees from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) and a M.B.A. from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He also completed the coursework for the degree of Ph.D. in the Musicology Department at the University of Chicago with a specialization in Renaissance and 20th Century music.
Mark has performed extensively with Guitar and various Keyboard instruments in the theatres of Chicago (Chicago Shakespeare Theatre, Marriott Lincolnshire Theatre, Candlelight Dinner Theatre and others) and in its studios and theatrical nightclub stages. He has been featured with performers such as Ross Lehman, Hollis Resnik, Bernadette Peters, Jan Pearce, Dionne Warwick, Carol Channing, Shirley Jones, Angela Lansbury, Patti Page, Nancy Wilson, and others. During his time at the University of Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC), under the direction of Joan Cochran Sommers, Mark has performed in concert with the renowned UMKC Accordion Orchestra (accordion) and also the UMKC Accordionaires (Guitar) during their 10 week USO tours to the Far East and Europe.
Mark describes his experience with the CSO and Muti as a ‘dream’. He says the CSO musicians and Maestro Muti were extremely supportive. His accordion part on Boito’s Prologue was played alongside approximately 200 singers (including a Children’s Choir) in addition to the 100 regular musicians of the orchestra. Mark described the concert series as one of the richest musical experiences of his life, with each of their four performances receiving elongated standing ovations.
