René Pape
Known for Acting · 56 credits
- Born
- 1964-09-04 (age 61)
- Place of birth
- Dresden, Germany
- Also known as
- The Black Diamond Bass
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
TV Shows (5)
Movies (51)
Parsifal
2016
as Gurnemanz
Die Schöpfung
1992
as Self - Bass
The Magic Flute
2006
as Sarastro
The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte
2017
as Sarastro
Mozart Requiem
1991
as Self
The Magic Flute
2006
as Sarastro
Schumann - Scenes from Goethe's Faust
2017
as Mephistopheles / Evil Spirit / Pater Profondus
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart - Requiem - Claudio Abbado
2013
My Home Is a Dark and Cloud-Hung Land
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunow
2021
as Boris Godunov
Hunter's Bride
2010
as Eremit
Festive Concert on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of the Grafenegg Festival
2017
as Self - Bass
Daphne - Berlin Staatsoper
2023
as Peneios
Strauss R: Elektra
2010
as Orest
Beethoven: Missa Solemnis
2006
as Self - Bass
Verdi: Messa da Requiem - Barenboim
as Bass
Sven Helbig: Requiem A
2025
as Himself (bass)
Verdi: Simon Boccanegra
2019
as Jacopo Fiesco
The Magic Flute
2006
as Sarastro
Solti Centenary Concert
2013
as bass
The Metropolitan Opera - Verdi: Macbeth
2014
as Banquo
Gounod: Faust
2011
as Mephistophélès
Messiah
2013
Metropolitan Opera At Home Gala
2020
as Self
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: T.H.A.M.O.S
2019
as König Pape
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
2018
as König Marke
The Metropolitan Opera: Boris Godunov
2010
as Boris Godunov
Tristan und Isolde
1999
as King Marke
Die Meistersinger Von Nürnberg
2001
Samson et Dalila
1998
as Un vieillard hébreu
Salzburg Festival Opening Concert
2011
as Self
The Metropolitan Opera: Fidelio
2025
as Rocco
Lohengrin
2020
as Heinrich der Vogler
Le nozze di Figaro
1999
as Figaro
Faust (The Royal Opera House)
2011
as Méphistophélès
The Mariinsky II Opening Gala
2015
as Self
Tannhäuser
2014
as Hermann, Landgraf von Thüringen
Parsifal
2013
as Gurnemanz
Wagner: Das Rheingold
2013
as Wotan
Ludwig van Beethoven: Fidelio
2003
as Rocco
Don Carlo
2016
as Filippo II
Mefistofele
2016
as Mefistofele
Beethoven: Fidelio
2000
as Rocco
Lohengrin: Opera romantica in tre atti
2012
as Heinrich der Vogler
The Metropolitan Opera: The Magic Flute
2017
as Sarastro
The Metropolitan Opera: Tristan und Isolde
2016
as King Marke
Giacomo Puccini: Turandot
2022
as Timur
Mozart Requiem - Claudio Abbado & Lucerne Festival Orchestra
2013
as Self - Bass
Wagner: Tristan und Isolde
2008
as König Marke (bass)
Wagner : Parsifal
2013
as Gurnemanz
Die Zauberflöte aus der Semperoper Dresden
2021
as Sarastro
About René Pape
"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 Sa… With 56 credits spanning from 1971 to 2025, René Pape has appeared in 51 films and 5 TV shows.
Fans searching for René Pape movies, René Pape filmography, or the latest projects starring René Pape can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular René Pape Movies
- Parsifal (2016) — as Gurnemanz
- Die Schöpfung (1992) — as Self - Bass
- The Magic Flute (2006) — as Sarastro
- The Metropolitan Opera: Die Zauberflöte (2017) — as Sarastro
- Mozart Requiem (1991) — as Self
Where to Watch René Pape Films
Most René Pape movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring René Pape, check our movies catalogue and browse page.