While a general theatrical strike caused the cancellation of the original opening night and delayed René Pape’s long-awaited role debut as Wagner’s King of the Gods, Wotan, Pape remarked calmly during his strike-imposed relaxation in a Milan hotel room, “Whenever it happens, it happens. My Wotan is ready to enter the world.”
The strike concluded, Wagner’s Das Rheingold opened on May 16 at La Scala in a new co-production by Milan’s Teatro alla Scala and the Berlin State Opera, directed by Guy Cassiers with Daniel Barenboim conducting. The reviews have begun to come in:
“From the first balsamic, beautiful bass-baritone note, Pape is the center of attention: René Pape is shown as an almost conventional Wotan with double-breasted suit and spear. His ring: Michael Jackson’s glove as evil itself. Pape is a sad God, who nevertheless has authority as his powerful and flexible, thoroughly healthy voice unfolds throughout the evening.
“A wonderful role debut, which will change the perception of this Wagner character for decades to come. One looks forward to its (further) development.”
– Die Welt
“The cast of singers is formidable, beginning with the warm, and, at the same time, terrifying Wotan from René Pape.”
– Corriere della Sera (Milan)
“The audience directed its well-deserved ovations primarily to the solid and charismatic René Pape (Wotan).”
– Il Giornale (Milan)
Thanks to HD satellite technology, Ring lovers and Pape fans in the United States and around the world will be able to experience this new production of Das Rheingold live from La Scala on May 26. See below for a partial listing of broadcast venues.
For those who cannot make the broadcast, René Pape has recorded Wotan’s aria from Das Rheingold, “Abendlich strahlt der Sonne Auge,” on his ECHO Klassik Award-winning Deutsche Grammophon release, Gods, Kings & Demons, which is available on CD and also as a download on iTunes and elsewhere.
In the fall, after making his Metropolitan Opera role debut as Boris Godunov, Pape will return to La Scala as Wotan in Die Walküre.
Live in HD from La Scala: Das Rheingold, May 26 at 2pm EST
New York area
Symphony Space
2537 Broadway
New York, NY 10025
(212) 864-5400
Los Angeles area
Laemmle’s Sunset 5
8000 Sunset Blvd
Los Angeles, CA 90046
(323) 848-3500
Laemmle’s Town Center 5
17200 Ventura Blvd
Encino, CA 91316
(818) 981-9811
Laemmle’s Playhouse 7
673 E Colorado Blvd
Pasadena, CA 91101
(626) 844-6500
San Francisco area
Vogue Theater
3290 Sacramento St
San Francisco, CA 94115
(415) 346-2288
Jarvis Conservatory
1711 Main St
Napa, CA 94559
(707) 255-5445
Camera 7 Cinemas
1875 S. Bascom Ave
Campbell, CA 95008
(408) 559-6900
Washington, DC area
Worldgate 9
13025 Worldgate Dr
Herndon, VA 20170
(703) 318-9290
Boston area
Cape Ann Community Cinema
21 Main St
Essex
Gloucester, MA 01930
(978) 309-8448
Philadelphia area
Bryn Mawr Film Institute
824 W Lancaster Ave
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 527-1319
Dallas-Fort Worth area
Harkins Southlake
1450 Plaza Pl
Grapevine
Southlake, TX 76092
(817) 310-0345
RAVE Ridgmar
2300 Green Oaks Rd
Fort Worth, TX 76116
(817) 566-0021
www.renepape.com