René Pape
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"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.
Known for
Credits
Die Schöpfung (1992)
as Self - Bass
The Magic Flute (2006)
as Sarastro
Mozart Requiem (1991)
as Self
Parsifal (2015)
as Gurnemanz
The Magic Flute (2006)
as Sarastro
My Home Is a Dark and Cloud-Hung Land (—)
Actor
Tristan und Isolde - Metropolitan Opera (2016)
as König Marke
Strauss R: Elektra (2010)
as Orest
Festive Concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Grafenegg Festival (2017)
as Self - Bass
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (2019)
as Jacopo Fiesco
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado (2013)
Actor
Schumann - Scenes from Goethe's Faust (2017)
as Mephistopheles / Evil Spirit / Pater Profondus
The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte (2017)
as Sarastro
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (2006)
as Self - Bass
Verdi: Messa da Requiem - Barenboim (—)
as Bass
The Metropolitan Opera - Verdi: Macbeth (2014)
as Banquo
Hunter's Bride (2010)
as Eremit
Tristan und Isolde (1999)
as King Marke
Gounod: Faust (2011)
as Mephistophélès
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunow (2021)
as Boris Godunov
Tannhäuser (2014)
as Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen
The Magic Flute (2006)
as Sarastro
Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala (2020)
as Self
The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio (2025)
as Rocco
Parsifal (2013)
as Gurnemanz
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunov (2010)
as Boris Godunov
Daphne - Berlin Staatsoper (2023)
as Peneios
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S (2019)
as König Pape
Mefistofele (2016)
as Mefistofele
Giacomo Puccini: Turandot (2022)
as Timur
Faust (The Royal Opera House) (2011)
as Méphistophélès
Le nozze di Figaro (1999)
as Figaro
Messiah (2013)
Actor
The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute (2017)
as Sarastro
Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio (2003)
as Rocco
Don Carlo (2016)
as Filippo II
Sven Helbig: Requiem A (2025)
as Himself (bass)
Wagner: Das Rheingold (2013)
as Wotan
The Mariinsky II Opening Gala (2015)
as Self
Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg (2001)
Actor
Salzburg Festival Opening Concert (2011)
as Self
Solti Centenary Concert (2013)
as bass
Beethoven: Fidelio (2000)
as Rocco
Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra (2013)
as Self - Bass
Samson et Dalila (1998)
as Un vieillard hébreu
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (2008)
as König Marke (bass)
Wagner : Parsifal (2013)
as Gurnemanz
Lohengrin: Opera romantica in tre atti (2012)
as Heinrich der Vogler
Lohengrin (2020)
as Heinrich der Vogler
Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden (2021)
as Sarastro
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (2018)
as König Marke
Parsifal - Bayerische Staatsoper (2018)
as Gurnemanz