René Pape

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.

Known For

Great Performances

Riverboat

MDR um 4

The Magic Flute

The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio

Tannhäuser

The Magic Flute

The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte

All Movies (51)

• Sven Helbig: Requiem A2025 · as Himself (bass)
• The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio2025 · as Rocco
• Daphne - Berlin Staatsoper2023 · as Peneios
• Giacomo Puccini: Turandot2022 · as Timur
• The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunow2021 · as Boris Godunov
• Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden2021 · as Sarastro
• Lohengrin2020 · as Heinrich der Vogler
• Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala2020 · as Self
• Verdi: Simon Boccanegra2019 · as Jacopo Fiesco
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S2019 · as König Pape
• Wagner: Tristan und Isolde2018 · as König Marke
• The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte2017 · as Sarastro
• The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute2017 · as Sarastro
• Schumann - Scenes from Goethe's Faust2017 · as Mephistopheles / Evil Spirit / Pater Profondus
• Festive Concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Grafenegg Festival2017 · as Self - Bass
• The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde2016 · as King Marke
• Parsifal2016 · as Gurnemanz
• Don Carlo2016 · as Filippo II
• Mefistofele2016 · as Mefistofele
• The Mariinsky II Opening Gala2015 · as Self
• The Metropolitan Opera - Verdi: Macbeth2014 · as Banquo
• Tannhäuser2014 · as Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen
• Wagner : Parsifal2013 · as Gurnemanz
• Wagner: Das Rheingold2013 · as Wotan
• Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra2013 · as Self - Bass
• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado2013
• Messiah2013
• Solti Centenary Concert2013 · as bass
• Parsifal2013 · as Gurnemanz
• Lohengrin: Opera romantica in tre atti2012 · as Heinrich der Vogler
• Gounod: Faust2011 · as Mephistophélès
• Faust (The Royal Opera House)2011 · as Méphistophélès
• Salzburg Festival Opening Concert2011 · as Self
• Hunter's Bride2010 · as Eremit
• The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunov2010 · as Boris Godunov
• Strauss R: Elektra2010 · as Orest
• Wagner: Tristan und Isolde2008 · as König Marke (bass)
• The Magic Flute2006 · as Sarastro
• The Magic Flute2006 · as Sarastro
• The Magic Flute2006 · as Sarastro
• Beethoven: Missa Solemnis2006 · as Self - Bass
• Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio2003 · as Rocco
• Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg2001
• Beethoven: Fidelio2000 · as Rocco
• Tristan und Isolde1999 · as King Marke
• Le nozze di Figaro1999 · as Figaro
• Samson et Dalila1998 · as Un vieillard hébreu
• Die Schöpfung1992 · as Self - Bass
• Mozart Requiem1991 · as Self
• My Home Is a Dark and Cloud-Hung Land—
• Verdi: Messa da Requiem - Barenboim— · as Bass

All TV Shows (5)

• MDR um 42014 · as Self
• Semperopernball2006 · as Self
• Lebensläufe1998 · as Self
• Riverboat1992 · as Self
• Great Performances1971 · as Rocco