René Pape

René Pape

1964-09-04

Biography

"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.

Also appears in

The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute

6.3

Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio

Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio

10.0

Salzburg Festival Opening Concert

Salzburg Festival Opening Concert

Not yet rated

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado

9.0

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde

Not yet rated

The Magic Flute

The Magic Flute

8.0

Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala

Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala

9.0

Hunter’s Bride

Hunter’s Bride

6.0

Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra

Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra

Not yet rated

Giacomo Puccini: Turandot

Giacomo Puccini: Turandot

Not yet rated

Strauss R: Elektra

Strauss R: Elektra

10.0

Verdi: Macbeth

Verdi: Macbeth

10.0

Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg

Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg

10.0

Samson et Dalila

Samson et Dalila

Not yet rated

Wagner : Parsifal

Wagner : Parsifal

Not yet rated

The Metropolitan Opera: Macbeth

The Metropolitan Opera: Macbeth

Not yet rated

Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden

Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden

Not yet rated

Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Salzburg Festival)

Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (Salzburg Festival)

Not yet rated

Le nozze di Figaro

Le nozze di Figaro

Not yet rated

The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde

The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde

9.5