Lutenist Kristiina Watt enjoys a busy concert schedule in the UK and abroad, performing on a variety of lutes and guitars from 16th-19th centuries.
Having worked professionally as a singer, Kristiina is delighted to bring this experience to her work as an accompanist. Her collaborations with vocal ensembles include Ensemble Pro Victoria and The Queenes Chappell, as a member, and additionally performing with the BBC Singers, The Fieri Consort, The Marian Consort and the singers of Vache Baroque.
Kristiina feels particularly at home in the intimate and transparent setting of chamber music. Recent chamber concerts include Handel’s ‘9 German Arias’ with Rachel Podger, a performance at Holywell Music Room with the Illyria Consort (directed by Bojan Čičić), a programme of trio sonatas with the Academy of Ancient Music in Spain directed by Steven Devine and a programme of 17th century English music with Nordic Affect in Reykjavik.
As an orchestral musician she has worked with many renowned orchestras, in historical performance and beyond, such as Academy of Ancient Music, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, The English Concert, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and Scottish Ensemble.
In addition to live performances on BBC Radio 3 (including ‘In Tune’) and BR Klassik, Kristiina’s playing can be heard on CD releases by ensemble Spiritato and The Fieri Consort.
Her regular collaborations as a chamber musician include a duo with violinist Sophia Prodanova and ensemble The Portrait Players with soprano Claire Ward and cellist/gambist Miriam Nohl. The latter is featured on the Brighton Early Music Festival Live! Scheme. She also works with soprano Héloïse Bernard in the duo Cordes in Ciel which is featured on the Live Music Now Scotland scheme.
Kristiina is a recent graduate of the Guildhall School of Music & Drama where she studied with William Carter and David Miller. Previously she studied lute and singing with James Akers and Dr Patricia Macmahon, respectively at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland/University of Glasgow and classical guitar with Prof. Allan Neave.
Kristiina plays a theorbo made by Klaus Jacobsen, a baroque guitar made by Dallas Sutherland and is awaiting the completion of a new renaissance lute by Martin Haycock.
Photo by: @barnes.photo