27 May 2025
We are deeply saddened by the devastating news that David Watkin, the charismatic principal cellist of English Baroque Soloists and Orchestra Romantique et Révolutionnaire (among many other ensembles) from the early 1990s until 2013, has died. This is a tragic loss to our music world, as he was such an authority and major figure in the scene, but his spirit will live on through his legacy of recordings and inspirational teaching.
Working closely with David was a privilege we cellists appreciated on every project. Sectional rehearsals were never about 'note-bashing' - he considered that to be 'personal hygiene, done at home' - but instead were all about trust and blend, more like a zen masterclass in fact. He encouraged concepts like 'playing someone else's cello by thought transference' or 'passing notes around seamlessly' while seated in a circle, to bond as a team and find our collective sound, or 'tuning major and minor semitones' and 'playing pentatonic scales in triads' to prepare for a run of Debussy opera in Paris. Laser intonation and posh bow speed were de rigueur of course, while not committing a 'deadly sin' (such as whooshing through an up-bow inadvertently, 'fishing for the beat' in syncopations, allowing the open C string to ring on once the harmony changed, or worst of all 'hitting the resolution' in a cadence) but he was always encouraging and fun to be around. He shared his philosophy, physical gifts and latest favourite mantra with great generosity and warmth, as well as plenty of daftness, camaraderie and some wicked in-jokes. I personally adored learning how his musical mind worked and being privy to his artistry in practice and I feel so lucky to have worked closely with him for so many years.
David was first diagnosed with the condition scleroderma in late 2013. He had noticed a stiffness and swelling in his fingers in the autumn - the skin hardened and he couldn’t press the strings down or he risked ulcers and other side effects - yet miraculously he managed to complete his eloquent and award-winning recording of the Bach Suites by Christmas (on Resonus Classics) just before he had to quit playing. In 2014 he wrote to thank his Monteverdi colleagues for their support, saying "MCO has been a huge part of my musical life for nearly all my career, including some of my most memorable concerts" and we all grieved our loss then. His unique sound and superb continuo playing can be heard on multiple SDG recordings including the Bach Cantata Pilgrimage CD series.
Despite all of the difficulties and uncertainty, David was incredibly brave and positive and saw it fatefully as a ‘zen stick’ leading him down the path he had wanted to embark upon and about which he was very excited - to become a conductor and educator. He was an extremely gifted teacher and communicator and was passionate about passing on his approach, which combined vast practical experience with scholarship and a great sense of humour. He became Head of Strings then Chair of Chamber Music at Royal Conservatoire Scotland and set up his 'Continuo Clinic' in Edinburgh as well as leading numerous international workshops, masterclasses and performances, thereby influencing future generations of musicians.
His health issues became extremely serious earlier this year, yet most of us still weren't prepared for this shattering news. Our thoughts are with his family and we will all miss him greatly, both as a hugely respected master musician and a much-loved colleague and friend.
Bless you David and Amen.
Catherine Rimer
co-principal cello
EBS & ORR
