"René Pape’s bass showed considerable velvet sheen and elegant dynamic play; purely as singing and star presence, he impressed."
"René Pape’s bass showed considerable velvet sheen and elegant dynamic play; purely as singing and star presence, he impressed."
Born in Dresden, Black Diamond Bass Rene Pape has been a member of the Berlin State Opera since 1988, but considers New York’s Metropolitan Opera his operatic “home away from home.” Since his house debut in 1995, he has appeared every season at the Met, in 18 roles and more than 160 performances, including four major debuts: Méphistophélès in Faust, Gurnemanz in Parsifal, Escamillo in Carmen, and the Old Hebrew in Samson et Dalila. But it was at the famous Unter den Linden – home of the Berlin State Opera – where Pape honed most of the great roles of his career.
Music Director Daniel Barenboim was an early supporter, and the Berlin State Opera has played host to Pape’s performances as King Marke in Tristan und Isolde; King Heinrich in Lohengrin; Sarastro in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte; Pogner in DieMeistersinger; Rocco in Beethoven’s Fidelio; Fasolt in Das Rheingold; Hunding in Die Walküre; and the title role in Don Giovanni. The opera house was also the venue for Pape’s appearances as Ramfis in Verdi’s Aida; Figaro in Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro; Leporello in Don Giovanni; and Orest in Strauss’s Elektra. Pape’s first CD of solo arias, Gods, Kings & Demons, was released in 2008 on Deutsche Grammophon with his hometown orchestra, the Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Sebastian Weigle. The disc won a coveted “ECHO” award, the German equivalent of a Grammy.
Pape performs regularly in major opera houses, concert halls, and symphony orchestras around the world, as well as opera festivals such as Bayreuth, Glyndebourne, Lucerne, Orange, Saint-Petersburg, Salzburg, Verbier and White Nights. He currently resides in Austria and Berlin.
External links
Filmography (Movies)
Sven Helbig: Requiem A
Character:Himself (bass)
Release Date:12/05/2025
The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio
Character:Rocco
Release Date:15/03/2025
Daphne - Berlin Staatsoper
Character:Peneios
Release Date:12/03/2023
Giacomo Puccini: Turandot
Character:Timur
Release Date:18/06/2022
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunow
Character:Boris Godunov
Release Date:09/10/2021
Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden
Character:Sarastro
Release Date:05/04/2021
Lohengrin
Character:Heinrich der Vogler
Release Date:13/12/2020
Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala
Character:Self
Release Date:25/04/2020
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Salzburg Festival)
Character:Jacopo Fiesco
Release Date:20/08/2019
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S
Character:König Pape
Release Date:01/01/2019
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
Character:König Marke
Release Date:11/09/2018
The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte
Character:Sarastro
Release Date:14/10/2017
The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute
Character:Sarastro
Release Date:14/10/2017
Schumann - Scenes from Goethe's Faust
Character:Mephistopheles
Release Date:01/10/2017
Festive Concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Grafenegg Festival
Character:Self - Bass
Release Date:31/03/2017
The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde
Character:King Marke
Release Date:08/10/2016
Parsifal
Character:Gurnemanz
Release Date:09/09/2016
Don Carlo
Character:Filippo II
Release Date:22/05/2016
Mefistofele
Character:Mefistofele
Release Date:01/01/2016
The Mariinsky II Opening Gala
Character:Self
Release Date:20/01/2015
The Metropolitan Opera - Verdi: Macbeth
Character:Banquo
Release Date:11/10/2014
Tannhäuser
Character:Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen
Release Date:01/04/2014
Wagner : Parsifal
Character:Gurnemanz
Release Date:18/12/2013
Wagner: Das Rheingold
Character:Wotan
Release Date:02/09/2013
Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Character:Self - Bass
Release Date:02/09/2013
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado
Character:
Release Date:12/07/2013
Messiah
Character:
Release Date:08/07/2013
Solti Centenary Concert
Character:bass
Release Date:30/04/2013
Parsifal
Character:Gurnemanz
Release Date:02/03/2013
Lohengrin: Opera romantica in tre atti
Character:Heinrich der Vogler
Release Date:07/12/2012
Gounod: Faust
Character:Mephistophélès
Release Date:10/12/2011
Faust (The Royal Opera House)
Character:Méphistophélès
Release Date:18/09/2011
Salzburg Festival Opening Concert
Character:Self
Release Date:30/08/2011
Hunter's Bride
Character:Eremit
Release Date:23/12/2010
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunov
Character:Boris Godunov
Release Date:23/10/2010
Strauss R: Elektra
Character:Orest
Release Date:01/08/2010
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
Character:König Marke (bass)
Release Date:18/01/2008
The Magic Flute
Character:Sarastro
Release Date:30/12/2006
The Magic Flute
Character:Sarastro
Release Date:07/09/2006
The Magic Flute
Character:Sarastro
Release Date:09/06/2006
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
Character:Self - Bass
Release Date:01/03/2006
Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio
Character:Rocco
Release Date:15/10/2003
Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg
Character:
Release Date:08/12/2001
Beethoven: Fidelio
Character:Rocco
Release Date:02/06/2000
Tristan und Isolde
Character:King Marke
Release Date:18/12/1999
Le nozze di Figaro
Character:Figaro
Release Date:01/01/1999
Samson et Dalila
Character:Un vieillard hébreu
Release Date:28/09/1998
Die Schöpfung
Character:Self - Bass
Release Date:31/07/1992
Mozart Requiem
Character:Self
Release Date:01/01/1991
Television Appearances
Images
