William Watson - Tenor
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One of the foremost Bach Evangelists of his generation, tenor William Watson has been a frequent guest artist with orchestras and concert presenters throughout the world. Most recently, he performed the Bach Christmas Oratorio in Mexico City with the National Symphony of Mexico. With Mexico's Xalapa Symphony he performed Christmas Oratorio as well as the Bach St. Matthew Evangelist. Following Messiahs with the Monterey Symphony and a gala performance at Carnegie Hall, Mr. Watson sang the St. John Evangelist with the Bach Society of St. Louis to great critical acclaim as well as the St. John arias at the Boulder Bach Festival. Mr. Watson has sung the St. Matthew Evangelist with Chicago's Music of the Baroque in a live NPR broadcast, as well as with the Bach Society of St. Louis, Buffalo Philharmonic, Portland Symphony, Princeton University, in début with the Nord Nederlands Orkest, and with the Oratorio Society of New York at Carnegie Hall. He has performed the St. John Evangelist with the Columbus Bach Ensemble as well as with the New Jersey, Youngstown, Alabama, and Kitchener-Waterloo (ON) symphony orchestras.
The versatile Mr. Watson has performed in diverse repertoire including Haydn's Creation with the Florida West Coast Symphony, Mendelssohn's Elijah with the Sacramento Choral Society and the Apollo Chorus of Chicago, Vorisek's Mass in B-flat in Prague with the Czech National Symphony (recorded by Cedille Records), Vaughan Williams' Hodie with the Dayton Philharmonic, Berlioz's Lelio with the Oregon Symphony, Rachmaninoff's The Bells with the Choral Arts Society of Philadelphia, Brahms' Rinaldo with the Youngstown Symphony, and Britten's Spring Symphony with the Nashville Symphony.
Appearances with major orchestras include Carmina Burana and Mozart's Mass in C minor with the Cincinnati Symphony and Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Schubert's Mass in G with Leonard Slatkin and the St. Louis Symphony, arias from the St. Matthew Passion with Lukas Foss and the Milwaukee Symphony, various Schubert masses with Charles Dutoit and the Montreal Symphony, and countless performances of Messiah. Mr. Watson performed as soloist in the St. Matthew Passion with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and Sir Georg Solti, recorded for London Records.
During his long association with Chicago's Music of the Baroque, Mr. Watson has performed all of JS Bach's major works including numerous cantatas. He has also appeared as soloist in most of Händel's major cantatas and operas including Alcina and Semele; works by Purcell; Monteverdi's operas, Vespers of 1610, Orfeo, Poppea, and Ulisse; and various works of Mozart and Haydn. Mr. Watson has performed at the Grant Park Music Festival as soloist in Bruckner's Te Deum with Jesus Lopez-Cobos, Mozart's Requiem with Christoff Perrick, Carmina Burana with Leonard Slatkin, Mozart's Davidde Penitente, Beethoven's Choral Fantasy, and the Rachmaninoff Vespers.
Mr. Watson has also performed with Albany Pro Musica, Bach Aria Group, Baltimore Choral Arts, Bel Canto Chorus (Milwaukee), Bethlehem Bach Choir, Boston Baroque, Carmel Bach Society, Columbus Bach Ensemble, the University Music Society of Ann Arbor, Pro Arte Chorale (NJ), Vancouver Chamber Choir, Les Violons du Roy (Québec), Virginia Consort, and the Winter Park Bach Festival (FL).
On the opera stage he apprenticed for two summers with Central City Opera where he performed Nemorino. He sang Elder Gleaton in Lyric Opera of Chicago's Susannah conducted by George Manahan, Strauss' Capriccio with Sir Andrew Davis, and in Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk conducted by Bruno Bartoletti. He created the role of President Van Buren in the world premiere of Amistad by Anthony Davis, conducted by Dennis Russell Davies. He sang Jaquino in Fidelio, Pedrillo in Abduction from the Seraglio and David in Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg with Cleveland Opera. He débuted as Tonio in Daughter of the Regiment with Chicago Opera Theater, and returned to the company for Pedrolino in Mozart's Jewel Box and as Amon in Philip Glass's critically acclaimed Akhnaten directed by Tony Award winner Mary Zimmerman. He also appeared as Apollo in Monteverdi's Orfeo with COT in a production which was presented in Brooklyn Academy of Music's Monteverdi Opera Festival.
Mr. Watson performed the role of Eumete in Monteverdi's Ulisse with Boston Baroque and, on very short notice, jumped into Philip Glass's In the Penal Colony as "Visitor" at the Court Theater in Chicago. He has sung other leading roles including Idamante and Ferrando with Palm Beach Opera, Aachen Stadttheater (Germany), San Sebastian Festival (Spain), Europera Festival (France), and at Klagenfurt in Austria.
In addition to the previously mentioned London recording of the St. Matthew Passion with Sir Georg Solti, Mr. Watson's impressive discography includes the Vorisek Mass with the Czech National Symphony on Cedille Records and appears on Newport Classics CD Where're You Walk (English Händel arias), performing the title aria.
SOLOIST | Bach Christmas Oratorio | Louisiana Philharmonic | Dec 11 & 13, 2008 |
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Mr. Watson as President Van Buren in Lyric Opera of Chicago's Amistad |
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As The Evangelist in Bach's St. John Passion |
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"Tenor William Watson made a welcome return to the Bach Society with his clearly sung, thoughtfully expressed Evangelist. His diction is impeccable. Watson is one of the best artists doing these roles today." |
Sarah Bryan Miller - Post-Dispatch - Mar 10, 2008 |
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As Eumete in Monteverdi's The Return of Ulysses |
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"…several excellent tenors … and with handsome baritonal resonance, William Watson, whose status as the swineherd Eumete was announced by black jeans and brown suede shoes." |
The Boston Globe |
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As Apollo in Monteverdi's Orfeo |
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"Outstanding in the cast, William Watson was a fine Apollo, exquisite in tone and decoration." |
The New York Times |
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As Soloist in Mozart's Requiem: |
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"William Watson sang excellentlyl the focus and sweetness of his tenor was ideal." |
Chicago Tribune |
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As Soloist in Vaughn Williams' Hodie |
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"Tenor William Watson was exquisite as the voice of the angel visiting Mary and later the shepherds." |
Dayton Daily News |
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As The Evangelist in Bach's St. John Passion |
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"But there is no doubt that the St. John Passion hinges on the part of the Evangelist, and William Watson performed a tour de force interpretation. Possessing an ethereal voice which borders on the sound and range of a counter-tenor (though he never uses a falsetto), Watson was the lynchpin of this performance. The voice is so arresting, the delivery so compelling, it mesmerized the audience." |
The Record |
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As The Evangelist in Bach's St. Matthew Passion |
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"William Watson proved technically and dramatically superlative, among the great Evangelists we have ever heard (and that's a lot by this time.)" |
University of Waterloo Gazette |
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"For the demanding role - called Evangelist in the passion oratorio tradition - conductor Howard Dyck secured the exemplary services of American tenor William Watson whose first Philharmonic appearance on Friday was alos his Canadian début. Simply put, Watson lived and breathed every word od his lengthy recitative segments with such immediacy of feeling and effortless tonal polish that there was no opportunity for one's attention to wander." |
The Record |
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As Soloist in Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil |
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"Tenor William Watson sounded ardent and radiant in brief solos." |
Chicago Tribune |
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As Soloist in Händel's Messiah |
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"Tenor William Watson had a beautiful spin to his voice." |
The State Journal |
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As Soloist in Bach's Christmas Oratorio: |
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"William Watson was the standout. His brilliant command of the runs in 'Frohe Hirten' are things we should hear more often in New York." |
The New York Times |
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As Hyllus in Händel's Hercules: |
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"William Watson's clear, forceful, ringing tenor sounded like the ideal instrument for Hyllus, the devoted son." |
Chicago Tribune |
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As Soloist in Händel's L'Allegro: |
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"The evening had another superb soloist in tenor William Watson who brought a level of expressiveness to this music one more often associates with a later repertoire. It was an intriguing and welcome point of view." |
Chicago Tribune |
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Mr. Watson as Ferrando in Aachen's Così fan tutte |
| Bach, JS | Cantatas: |
| #1 - Wie schoen leughtet der Morgenstern |
| #6 - Bleib bei uns |
| #13 - Meine Seufzer, meine Traenen |
| #19 - Es erhub sich ein Streit |
| #26 - Ach, wie fluechtig |
| #33 - Allein zu dir |
| #36 - Schwingt freudig euch empor |
| #40 - Dazu ist erschienen |
| #43 - Gott faehret auf |
| #44 - Sie werden euch |
| #46 - Schauet doch und sehet |
| #55 - Ich armer Mensch |
| #61 - Nun komm, der heiden Heiland |
| #63 - Christen, aetzet diesen Tag |
| #65 - Sie werden aus Saba alle kommen |
| #70 - Wachet! Betet! |
| #97 - In allen meinen Taten |
| #106 - Gottes Zeit |
| #110 - Unser Mund sei voll Lachens |
| #112 - Der Herr ist |
| #113 - Herr Jesu Christ |
| #114 - Ach, Lieben Christen |
| #117 - Sei Lob und Her |
| #119 - Preise, Jerusalem, den Herrn |
| #123 - Liebster Immanuel |
| #130 - Herr Gott, dich loben alle wir |
| #134 - Ein Herz, das seinem Jesum lebend weiss |
| #140 - Wachet auf |
| #147 - Herz und Mund |
| #148 - Bringet dem Herrn |
| #157 - Ich lasse dich nicht |
| #161 - Komm, du suesse Todesstunde |
| #184 - Erwuenschtes Freudenlicht |
| #189 - Meine Seele ruehmt und preist |
| #191 - Gloria in Excelsis Deo |
| #201 - Phoebus und Pan |
| "Coffee Cantata" |
| Christmas Oratorio - arias and recits |
| Easter Oratorio |
| Magnificat |
| Mass in Bm |
| St. Matthew Passion - Evangelist and arias |
| St. John Passion - Evangelist and arias |
| Beethoven | Choral Fantasy |
| Mass in C |
| Symphony No.9 (prepared) |
| Berlioz | Lelio |
| Requiem (prepared) |
| Brahms | Liebeslieder Walzer |
| Rinaldo |
| Britten | Canticle II, Abraham & Isaac |
| Canticle III, Still falls the rain |
| St. Nicholas Cantata |
| Serenade for Tenor, Horn and Strings |
| Spring Symphony |
| War Requiem (prepared) |
| Bruckner | Te Deum |
| Dubois | Seven Last Words |
| Gounod | St. Cecilia Mass |
| Händel | Acis and Galatea (Acis) |
| L'Allegro |
| Hercules |
| Jephtha |
| Judas Maccabeus |
| Messiah |
| Ode to St. Cecilia |
| Semele (Jupiter) |
| Haydn | Creation |
| Harmonie Messe |
| Lord Nelson Mass |
| Paukenmesse |
| The Seasons |
| Theresienmesse |
| Mendelssohn | Elijah |
| Monteverdi | Vespers of 1610 |
| Mozart | Coronation Mass |
| Davidde Penitente |
| Great Mass in C |
| Mass in Cm |
| Requiem |
| Waisenhaus Mass |
| Orff | Carmina Burana |
| Catulli Carmina |
| Purcell | Dido and Aeneas |
| Fairy Queen |
| King Arthur |
| Masque of Dioclesian |
| Ode to St. Cecilia |
| Saul and the Witch at Endor |
| Rachmaninoff | The Bells |
| Vespers |
| Schubert | Mass in G |
| Mass in E flat |
| Mass in A flat |
| Tippett | Child of our Time |
| Vaughan Williams | Hodie |
| Serenade to Music |
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Mr. Watson as Idamante in Aachen's Idomeneo |
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William Watson with the Columbus Bach Ensemble (click picture to view) | ||
Evangelist | Bach St. John Passion | Bach Society of St. Louis | 2008 |
SOLOIST | Bach St. John Passion | Boulder Bach Festival | 2008 |
SOLOIST | Bach Christmas Oratorio | National Symphony of Mexico | 2007 |
SOLOIST | Händel Messiah | Monterey Symphony | 2007 |
SOLOIST | Haydn Mass in Time of War | The Virginia Consort, Charlottesville, VA | 2006 |
Bach Bm Mass | Bach Society of St. Louis | 2006 | |
Bach St. Matthew Passion | Princeton University | 2006 | |
Bach Christmas Oratorio | Xalapa Symphony, Mexico | 2006 | |
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Mr. Watson as David in Cleveland Opera's Die Meistersinger von Nürenberg |
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Mr. Watson as Wenzel in Aachen's Verkaufte Braut |
| Barber | A Hand of Bridge | Bill | 1 |
| Beethoven | Fidelio | Jaquino | 1 |
| Bizet | Carmen | Remendado | 1 |
| Davis, Anthony | Amistad | President Van Buren | 1 |
| Donizetti | Daughter of the Regiment | Tonio | 1 |
Don Pasquale | Ernesto | 1 | |
L'elisir d'amore | Nemorino | 1 | |
Lucia di Lammermoor | Normanno | 1 | |
| Floyd | Susannah | Sam Polk | 1 |
| Elder Gleaton | 1 | |
| Glass | Akhnaten | Amon | 1 |
In the Penal Colony | The Visitor | 1 | |
| Gilbert and Sullivan | Trial by Jury | Edwin | 1 |
| Händel | Alcina | Oronte | 1 |
Semele | Jupiter | 1 | |
| Leoncavallo | I Pagliacci | Beppe | 1 |
| Mayr | Medea in Corinto | Egeo | 1 |
| Menotti | The Consul | Magician | 3 |
The Hero | Dr. Brainkoff | 1 | |
| Monteverdi | Coronation of Poppea | Arnalta | 1 |
Orfeo | Apollo | 1 | |
Ulisse | Eumete | 1 | |
| Ulisse | 3 | |
| Mozart | Abduction from the Seraglio | Belmonte | 2 |
| Pedrillo | 1 | |
La Clemenza di Tito | Tito | 3 | |
Così fan tutte | Ferrando | 1 | |
Don Giovanni | Don Ottavio | 1 | |
Idomeneo | Idamante | 1 | |
| Idomeneo | 3 | |
Jewel Box | Jaquino | 1 | |
| Romberg | Student Prince | Karl Franz | 1 |
| Rossini | Barber of Seville | Almaviva | 1 |
Cenerentola | Ramiro | 1 | |
L'Italiana in Algeri | Lindoro | 1 | |
| Shostokovich | Lady MacBeth of Mtsensk | Coachman | 1 |
| First Foreman | 1 | |
| Smetana | Verkaufte Braut | Wenzel | 1 |
| Strauss | Ariadne auf Naxos | Tanzmeister | 3 |
| Thompson | The Mother of Us All | Andrew Johnson | 1 |
| Verdi | Falstaff | Fenton | 1 |
| Traviata | Gastone | 1 | |
Otello | Rodrigo | 1 | |
Rigoletto | Borsa | 1 | |
| Wagner | Meistersinger | David | 1 |
Rheingold | Loge | 3 |
1 | performed |
2 | completely prepared |
3 | in preparation |
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Soloist - Thou shalt break them
(Messiah).wma
