Alan Watt

Born: March 4, 1947;

Died: June 20, 2024

Alan Watt, who has died in Glasgow aged 77, was a well-known figure throughout musical life in Scotland as a singer of opera and in concert halls and taught at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS). He was much admired by colleagues and staff there for his meticulous care and advice to all his students. On stage, singers have spoken of his sonorous baritone voice and his ability to enliven the character he was portraying.

Watt enjoyed a considerable career singing often with Scottish Opera and Glyndebourne and many other companies in Europe but appeared often in Scotland and in his native Aberdeen.

In 2006, two outstanding concerts were arranged in St Andrew’s Cathedral, Aberdeen, given by Scottish singers who hailed from the north-east. The second concert featured Watt giving an enchanting solo performance of music by Hadyn with the Aberdeen University Chamber Orchestra.

The RCS has commented, “Alan was a champion of his students and was always delighted by the successes and attainments they enjoyed in their lives and musical careers.”

Alan James Watt was born in Aberdeen and attended Aberdeen Academy (now Hazelhead Academy). He originally planned to study at Gray’s School of Art, but he changed his mind and studied singing at the RCS. He joined the music teaching staff of the RCS in 1995 where he taught the bachelor's and master’s courses, alongside performance classes and early Italian song.

Throughout his time teaching, he enjoyed an active stage career. After graduating he sang often with SO’s Opera For All but his debut with the company was in 1983 as Albert in Werther (conducted by Roderick Brydon).

He returned the following two years to sing in Rossini’s The Silken Ladder directed by the young Graham Vick. Watt returned to SO to sing Marcello in La Boheme (1984), Fiddler on the Roof (1986, with Una Mclean) and La Traviata (1989).

He also sang at Haddo House and with Bohemia Opera, Scotland’s professional touring company centred in Glasgow. With them he was in a notable production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi in 2014 at the Edinburgh Fringe. The company comprised singers who Watt had taught and was warmly received – indeed, one critic wrote, “the production could have been transported to the Edinburgh International Festival.”

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Watt also had a considerable career on the concert platform and returned to Aberdeen to sing with the Aberdeen Choral Society (notably in Samson et Dalila in 2008) and at a concert of Brahms’ German Requiem to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the Dundee Choral Union in 1997. He also appeared regularly with the Scottish Early Music Consort and made discs of Burns’s songs and Auld Scottish Sangs.

Watt was a popular visitor at Glyndebourne throughout the 1970s both at the festival and on the autumn tours. He made a strong impression in such roles as Marcello in La Boheme (1973), Figaro in Marriage of Figaro (1976) and Petrovich in Eugene Onegin (1975).

Appearances abroad included Guglielmo in Cossi fan tutte at La Fenice in Florence and Papageno in Tel Aviv (conducted by Zubin Mehta and directed by Jonathan Miller).

(Image: Alan Watt)

Watt was held in high regard by students as he guided them patiently – many recall his avuncular care – through their demanding studies. He always wanted to bring an extra lustre to each student’s voice and make it special – he wanted to develop a certain elegance of phrasing and a clarity in articulation. All talk of his sense of humour (“I never had a class when we didn’t laugh a lot”) and much mention is made of his love of a curry after a performance.

He was held in similar respect at North East of Scotland Music School in Aberdeen where he also taught.

Russell Trueman recalled, “Alan was my singing teacher for my four years at the RSAMD, a wonderful, kind, patient and inspiring teacher with a fabulous sense of humour. The heavenly choir has gained a wonderful baritone.”

Linda Finnie the international mezzo commented, “Alan possessed a very beautiful rich baritone, and was a fine musician.”

Watt married Gill (née Gummer) in 1988 and lived in the Dowanhill area of Glasgow. When not teaching or on stage he and his wife much enjoyed exploring the remote Greek islands and had many cycling holidays in Europe. More recently they walked their dog over the moors. In earlier days he also enjoyed badminton, snooker and golf.

Gill, his widow and sole survivor, told The Herald, “Alan was a warm and generous person, a wonderful storyteller with a fantastic sense of humour and fun. He touched many people’s lives in many different ways as a person, an artist and a teacher.”

Alasdair Steven