A commanding presence on the operatic scene, the bass-baritone Keel Watson, who has died all of the sudden aged 59, might modulate effortlessly between an imperious Wotan, the ruler of the gods in Wagner’s Ring of the Nibelung (Regents Opera), and an amusingly indolent Caterpillar, wearing shimmering inexperienced robes, in Will Todd’s household opera Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Opera Holland Park). In each, his wonderful diction, sonorous tone and exceptionally participating stage presence served him in good stead.
The genial Hans Sachs was one other Wagner function that suited him properly, however he was additionally as convincing as a terrifyingly irascible King Philip in Verdi’s Don Carlo as he was a likable Papageno in The Magic Flute. He got here to prominence in a collection of appearances within the late Nineteen Nineties, most notably in Mark-Anthony Turnage’s chamber opera The Nation of the Blind, wherein he performed the a part of the duly authoritative Elder of the distant, visually challenged Andean neighborhood of the title within the staging by ENO Up to date Opera Studio on the 1997 Aldeburgh pageant.
His Iago in Graham Vick’s trailblazing, community-centred Othello (as Verdi’s work was designated for this manufacturing) in a derelict manufacturing facility on an industrial property in Birmingham (2009) was one other success.
He made his Royal Opera debut in 2000 because the Bosun in Billy Budd underneath Richard Hickox and within the following couple of a long time put in some well-received appearances each at residence and overseas, together with a Porgy in Lisbon, a wonderfully portentous chaplain, Raimondi, in Lucia di Lammermoor at Opera Holland Park (2012), a hyperactive but subtly empathetic Falstaff for Fulham Opera (2014) and a supercilious Usher in a BBC Proms efficiency of Trial by Jury at Alexandra Palace, north London (2018).
He sang roles with Welsh Nationwide Opera (together with Don Basilio in The Barber of Seville, 2021), and appeared with ENO as Dr Bartolo in The Marriage of Figaro (2018), Aye in Akhnaten (2019) and the Bonze in Madam Butterfly (2020); within the month earlier than his loss of life he was delivering a hilariously ferocious Personal Willis in Iolanthe on the Coliseum and was attributable to seem later in ENO’s season because the Mayor in Jenufa.
Watson was born in Greenford, west London, the son of Frank, a paint-mixing specialist, and his spouse, Calda, who labored at Beechams pharmaceutical firm. After Hounslow Manor college, he studied trombone with Roger Brenner at Trinity School of Music (now Trinity Laban) and singing with Elizabeth Hawes and aspired to be knowledgeable brass participant till a vocal function in an opera gave him a change of perspective. “I realised my singing was higher than my trombone taking part in so I modified my plans”, he mentioned.
Along with a large stage repertory he appeared because the Second Armed Man in Kenneth Branagh’s filmed model of The Magic Flute (2006) and sang the function of Harasta in an animated model of The Crafty Little Vixen, broadcast by the BBC in 2003.
To the roles of Wotan/Wanderer and Hans Sachs he introduced breadth of tone and gravitas, compelling consideration as a lot by his vocal charisma as his stage presence. With a cheap raised eyebrow or a magisterial wave of the hand he allowed the motion to unfold round him with out clearly drawing consideration to himself. He additionally sang an impressive Flying Dutchman for Fulham Opera in 2015.
In Could of this 12 months, by which era he was on dialysis, his Wotan for Regents Opera (as Fulham Opera had been renamed) at Freemason’s Corridor in London was considerably compromised in that he was clearly combating each breath management and reminiscence; but so participating a performer was he that even such faults appeared surprisingly endearing. The earlier 12 months he had been an imposing Commendatore in Scottish Opera’s Don Giovanni.
An enormous-hearted, amusing man, he was form and supportive to his colleagues, as widespread and extremely regarded throughout the occupation as he was with audiences.
He’s survived by a daughter, Amalia, and son, Solomon, from a wedding that resulted in divorce. He’s additionally survived by his accomplice, the Danish mezzo-soprano Ingeborg Børch, who appeared alongside him as Wotan’s consort Fricka, and her son.
