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in 1972. He was initially brought into the company as the musical director of the 1972 Christmas panto. It was a position he would hold until his retirement in the process becoming affectionately known "Uncle Derek". After appearing on the Citz stage in non-speaking roles, his first speaking role was
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In 1984, Watson was the prime mover in the foundation of what was then the
Scottish branch of the London Wagner Society. As chairman, Watson oversaw a declaration of independence in 1996 that saw the local organisation become the Wagner Society of Scotland. He remained as Chair until 2013, when he
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for a decade, Watson opened Linton Books. Once he had retired from the theatre, the shop provided him with an alternative stage, ‘playing’ the proprietor of the shop to entertain customers. Book signings by authors included
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215:, published in 2005, found the book's heroine Isabel Dalhousie visiting Watson in his capacity as bookseller. The shop itself featured during the unravelling of the story's mystery.
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192:, with baritone Thomas Lehman, Runnicles and Lehman presented a live performance and interview for the Society at the Runnicles family's parish, Greenbank Parish Church.
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at the age of eight. He was sent to piano lessons, and by the time he was 11 had composed his second symphonic poem, The Romans in
Britain. He was a music graduate of
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22:(6 November 1948 – 17 September 2018) was a Scottish musicologist, actor, musician and bookseller. He has been described as a Scottish cultural icon.
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The Wagner
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until his death. The courses were continued thereafter at
Gartmore by broadcaster David Nice until the
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Watson contributed two volumes to the Master
Musicians series of books. These were tomes on
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513:"Obituary - Derek Watson, musician, author, actor, lecturer and book shop proprietor"
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276:"Obituary - Derek Watson, musician, author, actor, lecturer and book shop proprietor"
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Wagner
Society of Scotland founder Derek Watson teaching a course for the Society at
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Obituary - Derek Watson, musician, author, actor, lecturer and book shop proprietor
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after a brief illness. In
November 2019, a memorial event was held for him at the
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Watson delivered study courses annually for the
Society on the life and works of
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39:'s Puntila and his Servant Matti. He went on to appear in more than 60 shows.
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250:"Scotland says farewell to a cultural icon as Derek Watson dies aged 69"
169:, annually awards a scholarship to a successful applicant to visit the
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180:. On 24 August 2024, the day after his Bruckner-Mahler concert at the
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under the auspices of the
Richard Wagner Scholarship Foundation.
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forced the organisation to move the courses online indefinitely.
540:"Screen stars set to appear at memorial for actor Derek Watson"
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441:'BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra & Sir Donald Runnicles'
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was succeeded in the post by Dale
Bilsland until 2017, when
209:, whose second novel in the Sunday Philosophy Club series,
231:, Glasgow. Watson is survived by his partner, Will Scott.
338:"Derek Watson, Former Chair of the WS Scotland has died"
496:'BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra: Mahler and Bruckner'
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in 1989. In 1979 he also wrote a major biography of
133:and Thomas Lehman at Greenbank Parish Church 2024
86:Watson wrote a version of the story for children.
176:The Society's Patron is Scottish conductor, Sir
125:R. Brady, C. Proudfoot, T. Gould, J. Anderton,
429:International Association of Wagner Societies
343:International Association of Wagner Societies
325:International Association of Wagner Societies
167:International Association of Wagner Societies
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16:Scottish actor and musicologist (1948–2018)
494:Bannatyne-Scott, Brian. (25 August 2024).
346:. Richard-Wagner-Verband International e.V
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383:Wagner Society of Scotland - Courses
248:Hannan, Martin (21 September 2018).
200:In 1994, having been a resident in
47:Watson composed his first piece, a
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519:. Newsquest Media. 9 October 2018
282:. Newsquest Media. 9 October 2018
566:Cooper, Neil. (9 October 2018).
538:Hannan, Martin (November 2019).
186:Edinburgh International Festival
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445:BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
190:BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra
592:The Wagner Society of Scotland
479:. 19 July 2024. The Newsroom.
90:The Wagner Society of Scotland
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617:Scottish classical composers
302:Richard Wagner - A Biography
123:From WSoS Committee L>R:
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622:Scottish male stage actors
320:Wagner Society of Scotland
212:Friends, Lovers, Chocolate
225:Edinburgh Royal Infirmary
30:Watson began work at the
465:thomaslehmanbaritone.com
461:'Thomas Lehman baritone'
545:The National (Scotland)
84:Der Ring des Nibelungen
500:Edinburgh Music Review
451:. Edinburgh, Scotland.
425:Scholarship Foundation
307:Richard Wagner félagið
207:Alexander McCall Smith
61:Royal Academy of Music
53:Battle of Bannockburn
637:Scottish booksellers
575:The Herald (Glasgow)
409:Bayreuth Scholarship
135:(C. Massimo at rear)
57:Edinburgh University
223:Watson died in the
196:Bookshop proprietor
147:was elected Chair.
78:. To mark the 2003
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413:wagnerscotland.net
396:The Mahler Players
43:Music and writings
467:official website.
171:Bayreuth Festival
160:Covid-19 Pandemic
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607:1948 births
548:. Newsquest
256:. Newsquest
202:West Linton
184:during the
127:D. Williams
72:Franz Liszt
601:Categories
517:The Herald
449:Usher Hall
365:David Nice
280:The Herald
235:References
182:Usher Hall
63:, London.
415:website.
399:website.
309:website.
229:Òran Mór
59:and the
552:9 March
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350:24 July
286:9 March
260:9 March
109:in 2017
219:Death
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