René Pape

“Black Diamond Bass” to adorn new stage of the Mariinsky Theater in a star filled Gala Opening

20 April 2013 — Celebrating the inauguration of the new Mariinsky Theater (Mariinsky II), René Pape is set to appear in a Grand Opening Gala conducted by Valery Gergiev on May 2^nd.  A regular guest of St Petersburg’s distinguished opera house, Pape will now take the stage with a star-studded cast including Plácido Domingo, Olga Borodina, Alexei Markov, Anna Netrebko, and Mikhail Petrenko, accompanied by the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra.

Following the much lauded release of the Mariinsky Label’s Walküre CD, in which Pape is featured in another of his signature roles- Wotan- the renowned German bass will lend his voice in commemorating the opening of Russia’s newest state of the art performance facility.

Long time collaborator and colleague Valery Gergiev, who celebrates twenty-five years as director of the theatre this year, adds: “The program for the grand opening has been compiled in order to show the superb skills of our performers and our magnificent stage, to link the history of the Mariinsky Theatre with a modern audience and contemporary works from different genres – opera, ballet and symphony music.”

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René Pape, Hailed in the Met’s new Parsifal, Is Broadcast as Part of Met’s Worldwide Live in HD Program (March 2)

27 February 2013 — Reaping universal praise with his signature Gurnemanz in the Metropolitan Opera’s current hit production of Parsifal, René Pape is poised to earn more kudos with a spring and summer full of high-profile Wagner performances – particularly as Wotan in Das Rheingold and Die Walküre at the Berlin State Opera under Daniel Barenboim (March 23-April 14). In the New York Times review of François Girard’s new Met production of Parsifal, Anthony Tommasini reminded readers that Pape was playing “a role he owns.” Tommasini added: “Upbraiding Parsifal, Mr. Pape’s Gurnemanz sings with a mix of chilling reproach and baffled grief. Authority is built into Mr. Pape’s powerful, deep voice and crisp, natural diction.” The Associated Press offered its approbation, too: “Pape pours out unstinting rich, velvety sound, but just as important, his is a deeply felt interpretation: His joy at the miracle that has brought Parsifal back and saved the knights brings tears to his eyes – and ours.” As Wotan in a new Die Walküre recording conducted by Valery Gergiev for the Mariinsky label, Pape won rave reviews on both sides of the Atlantic, including another AP accolade for his “unusually brooding, introspective god.”

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René Pape stars in “Parsifal” at the Met and in “Die Walküre” on disc

22 January 2013 — René Pape Reprises his Gurnemanz in the Met’s New Parsifal (Feb. 15-March 8) and Sings Wotan on New Mariinsky Recording of Die Walküre

René Pape – an exponent of “the purest Wagnerian gravitas,” according to Gramophone – helps mark this year’s bicentennial of Wagner’s birth with productions on both sides of the Atlantic, plus a new Valery Gergiev-led recording of Die Walküre. Pape sings his signature Gurnemanz in the new François Girard production of Parsifal at the Metropolitan Opera, conducted by Daniele Gatti and running from February 15 to March 8. Past praise for Pape’s Gurnemanz at the Met includes New York magazine lauding his “textural beauty and expressive range,” with the New Yorker concluding, “He sang, as Domingo sings, with the conviction of a born actor.” This run of Parsifal – which Girard promises “will get to the hardcore reality of what Wagner is talking about” – finds Pape singing alongside his friend and fellow noted Wagnerian, Jonas Kaufmann.  Pape and Kaufmann also teamed last month for Wagner’s Lohengrin at Milan’s La Scala, with the New York Times review calling the bass “authoritative.” Pape also features in another of his signature Wagner roles – Wotan – in the recording of Die Walküre conducted by Gergiev and due out February 12. This first release in a “Ring” cycle from the Mariinsky Orchestra’s own label – available on Super Audio CD and download – sees Pape joined by Kaufmann and Nina Stemme.

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René Pape Begins Winter of Wagner at La Scala and the Met

4 December 2012 — Rene Pape’s winter is full of his signature Wagner roles. First at La Scala, Pape will portray King Heinrich in Wagner’s Lohengrin, joining friend Jonas Kaufmann and frequent musical partner Daniel Barenboim (Dec 7-27). Early in 2013, to help mark the bicentennial of Wagner’s birth, Pape returns to the United States to sing his great Gurnemanz in the new François Girard production of Parsifal at the Metropolitan Opera, led by Daniele Gatti (Feb 15-March 8).

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