Cast & creator
René Pape
Best known for Great Performances, MDR um 4, Riverboat
"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 known as: The Black Diamond Bass
52
film credits
5
television credits
57
1971–2025 · acting roles
7.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (57)
Showing 57 of 57 credits
Great Performances
Rocco
1971
MDR um 4
Self
2014
Riverboat
Self
1992Lebensläufe
Self
1998Semperopernball
Self
2006
Tristan und Isolde - Metropolitan Opera
König Marke
2016
The Magic Flute
Sarastro
2006
Parsifal
Gurnemanz
2015
The Magic Flute
Sarastro
2006
Die Schöpfung
Self - Bass
1992
Mozart Requiem
Self
1991
Verdi: Messa da Requiem - Barenboim
Bass
Parsifal - Bayerische Staatsoper
Gurnemanz
2018
The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte
Sarastro
2017
Festive Concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Grafenegg Festival
Self - Bass
2017
Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala
Self
2020
Schumann - Scenes from Goethe's Faust
Mephistopheles / Evil Spirit / Pater Profondus
2017
Faust (The Royal Opera House)
Méphistophélès
2011
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunow
Boris Godunov
2021
The Metropolitan Opera - Verdi: Macbeth
Banquo
2014
Le nozze di Figaro
Figaro
1999
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunov
Boris Godunov
2010
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado
2013
Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio
Rocco
2003
Hunter's Bride
Eremit
2010
The Magic Flute
Sarastro
2006
Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg
2001
The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio
Rocco
2025
The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute
Sarastro
2017
The Mariinsky II Opening Gala
Self
2015
Strauss R: Elektra
Orest
2010
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra
Jacopo Fiesco
2019My Home Is a Dark and Cloud-Hung Land
Salzburg Festival Opening Concert
Self
2011Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S
König Pape
2019
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
König Marke
2018
Lohengrin
Heinrich der Vogler
2020
Gounod: Faust
Mephistophélès
2011
Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra
Self - Bass
2013
Samson et Dalila
Un vieillard hébreu
1998
Lohengrin: Opera romantica in tre atti
Heinrich der Vogler
2012
Daphne - Berlin Staatsoper
Peneios
2023
Tristan und Isolde
King Marke
1999
Wagner: Das Rheingold
Wotan
2013
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
Self - Bass
2006
Mefistofele
Mefistofele
2016
Parsifal
Gurnemanz
2013
Giacomo Puccini: Turandot
Timur
2022
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
König Marke (bass)
2008Sven Helbig: Requiem A
Himself (bass)
2025
Messiah
2013
Solti Centenary Concert
bass
2013
Tannhäuser
Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen
2014
Wagner : Parsifal
Gurnemanz
2013
Beethoven: Fidelio
Rocco
2000
Don Carlo
Filippo II
2016
Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden
Sarastro
2021