
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

Tristan und Isolde - Metropolitan Opera (2016)
as König Marke

The Magic Flute (2006)
as Sarastro

Parsifal (2015)
as Gurnemanz

Die Schöpfung (1992)
as Self - Bass

The Magic Flute (2006)
as Sarastro

Parsifal - Bayerische Staatsoper (2018)
as Gurnemanz

Mozart Requiem (1991)
as Self

The Metropolitan Opera - Verdi: Macbeth (2014)
as Banquo

Verdi: Messa da Requiem - Barenboim (—)
as Bass

The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunov (2010)
as Boris Godunov

Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala (2020)
as Self

Schumann - Scenes from Goethe's Faust (2017)
as Mephistopheles / Evil Spirit / Pater Profondus

Faust (The Royal Opera House) (2011)
as Méphistophélès

The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte (2017)
as Sarastro

Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg (2001)
Actor

Festive Concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Grafenegg Festival (2017)
as Self - Bass

The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunow (2021)
as Boris Godunov

The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio (2025)
as Rocco

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado (2013)
Actor

Le nozze di Figaro (1999)
as Figaro

The Magic Flute (2006)
as Sarastro

Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio (2003)
as Rocco

The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute (2017)
as Sarastro
My Home Is a Dark and Cloud-Hung Land (—)
Actor

The Mariinsky II Opening Gala (2015)
as Self

Strauss R: Elektra (2010)
as Orest

Hunter's Bride (2010)
as Eremit

Gounod: Faust (2011)
as Mephistophélès

Verdi: Simon Boccanegra (2019)
as Jacopo Fiesco

Lohengrin: Opera romantica in tre atti (2012)
as Heinrich der Vogler

Samson et Dalila (1998)
as Un vieillard hébreu

Salzburg Festival Opening Concert (2011)
as Self
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S (2019)
as König Pape

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis (2006)
as Self - Bass

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (2018)
as König Marke

Mefistofele (2016)
as Mefistofele

Tristan und Isolde (1999)
as King Marke

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde (2008)
as König Marke (bass)

Giacomo Puccini: Turandot (2022)
as Timur

Daphne - Berlin Staatsoper (2023)
as Peneios

Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra (2013)
as Self - Bass

Parsifal (2013)
as Gurnemanz

Solti Centenary Concert (2013)
as bass

Tannhäuser (2014)
as Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen

Wagner: Das Rheingold (2013)
as Wotan

Messiah (2013)
Actor

Beethoven: Fidelio (2000)
as Rocco
Sven Helbig: Requiem A (2025)
as Himself (bass)

Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden (2021)
as Sarastro

Lohengrin (2020)
as Heinrich der Vogler

Don Carlo (2016)
as Filippo II

Wagner : Parsifal (2013)
as Gurnemanz





