
René Pape
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- September 4, 1964
- Birthplace
- Dresden, Germany
"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.
Filmography

Verdi: Messa da Requiem - Barenboim TBA
as Bass
- My Home Is a Dark and Cloud-Hung Land
My Home Is a Dark and Cloud-Hung Land TBA
Actor
- Sven Helbig: Requiem A
Sven Helbig: Requiem A 2025
as Himself (bass)

The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio 2025
as Rocco

Daphne - Berlin Staatsoper 2023
as Peneios

Giacomo Puccini: Turandot 2022
as Timur

The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunow 2021
as Boris Godunov

Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden 2021
as Sarastro

Lohengrin 2020
as Heinrich der Vogler

Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala 2020
as Self

Verdi: Simon Boccanegra 2019
as Jacopo Fiesco
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S 2019
as König Pape

Wagner: Tristan und Isolde 2018
as König Marke

Parsifal - Bayerische Staatsoper 2018
as Gurnemanz

The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute 2017
as Sarastro

The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte 2017
as Sarastro

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

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

Tristan und Isolde - Metropolitan Opera 2016
as König Marke

Don Carlo 2016
as Filippo II

Mefistofele 2016
as Mefistofele

Parsifal 2015
as Gurnemanz

The Mariinsky II Opening Gala 2015
as Self

The Metropolitan Opera - Verdi: Macbeth 2014
as Banquo

Tannhäuser 2014
as Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen

Wagner : Parsifal 2013
as Gurnemanz

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

Wagner: Das Rheingold 2013
as Wotan

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado 2013
Actor

Messiah 2013
Actor

Solti Centenary Concert 2013
as bass

Parsifal 2013
as Gurnemanz

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

Gounod: Faust 2011
as Mephistophélès

Faust (The Royal Opera House) 2011
as Méphistophélès

Salzburg Festival Opening Concert 2011
as Self

Hunter's Bride 2010
as Eremit

The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunov 2010
as Boris Godunov

Strauss R: Elektra 2010
as Orest

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

The Magic Flute 2006
as Sarastro

The Magic Flute 2006
as Sarastro

The Magic Flute 2006
as Sarastro

Beethoven: Missa Solemnis 2006
as Self - Bass

Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio 2003
as Rocco

Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg 2001
Actor

Beethoven: Fidelio 2000
as Rocco

Tristan und Isolde 1999
as King Marke

Le nozze di Figaro 1999
as Figaro

Samson et Dalila 1998
as Un vieillard hébreu

Die Schöpfung 1992
as Self - Bass

Mozart Requiem 1991
as Self
Credits from TMDB.