Don Carlo at the Bayerische Staatsoper

René Pape returns to the Bayerische Staatsoper this summer in one of his signature roles, Philipp II in Verdi’s Don Carlo. He has previously performed this role to great acclaim:

nsinging Philip for the first time at the Met was the astounding German bass René Pape, who so dominated the performance that Verdi’s “Don Carlo” might have been renamed “The Tragedy of King Philip.”
In a move to end a horrific war between their countries, Elisabeth, the daughter of Henri II of France, has been given in marriage to Philip. Yet she and Don Carlo, who were initially betrothed, are deeply in love. Here, though, the Spanish king was the tall, charismatic and robust-voiced Mr. Pape. Who would not rather be married to this Philip?
Mr. Pape was wrenching in the immensely sad aria when the emotionally shattered king, alone in his chamber, realizes that he has alienated his son, is unloved by his wife and is feared by his people. And in the scene that follows, the bass Samuel Ramey as the Grand Inquisitor, a fanatical cleric who intimidates the king into cracking down on all dissent, proved a chilling match for Mr. Pape’s beleaguered king. The veteran Mr. Ramey has a wobble in his sustained tones these days, but it actually enhanced his portrayal of this aged, blind and maniacal character

“And singing Philip for the first time at the Met was the astounding German bass René Pape, who so dominated the performance that Verdi’s “Don Carlo” might have been renamed “The Tragedy of King Philip” . . . 

In a move to end a horrific war between their countries, Elisabeth, the daughter of Henri II of France, has been given in marriage to Philip. Yet she and Don Carlo, who were initially betrothed, are deeply in love. Here, though, the Spanish king was the tall, charismatic and robust-voiced Mr. Pape. Who would not rather be married to this Philip? Mr. Pape was wrenching in the immensely sad aria when the emotionally shattered king, alone in his chamber, realizes that he has alienated his son, is unloved by his wife and is feared by his people.”

Anthony Tommasini – The New York Times

Pape is joined by Alfred Kim as Don Carlos, Simone Piazzola as the Marquis de Posa, Anja Harteros as Elisabetta, and Anna Smirnova as Princess Eboli. Asher Fisch leads the Bayerische Staatsorchester and Chor for these sold-out performances, taking place July 24, 27 & 30.