Gods, Kings & Demons (Opera Arias)

René Pape, Staatskapelle Dresden, Sebastian Weigle

Released on 1/1/08 by Deutsche Grammophon (DG)
Main artists: René Pape Staatskapelle Dresden Sebastian Weigle
Genre: Classical

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Bass René Pape has been a highly visible presence on the international opera scene since the early '90s, so it's surprising that this release is his first solo album. It includes some of his signature roles from Wagner and Verdi, as well as some selections from more obscure operas and roles he hasn't yet sung onstage. The title, Gods, Kings, & Demons, aptly reflects the character of the majority of bass roles in opera. In this collection, the demons get the bulk of the attention. Pape includes excerpts from three of the big Faust operas -- Faust, Mefistofele, and La Damnation de Faust (Busoni's Mephistopheles is a tenor) -- as well as Rubinstein's Demon and Dvorák's Rusalka. The variety of these depictions of the malevolent is a testimony to both the composers' inventiveness and Pape's dramatic gifts. The two selections from Faust, "Le veau d'or" and "Vous qui faites l'endormie," demonstrate Pape's ability to color his voice and shape his delivery to convey the complexity of the character of Méphistophélès. The arias from Rubinstein's Demon, an opera Pape loves, are so gorgeous and Pape's performance of them is so sumptuous that it's a shame he's never had a chance to record or perform the complete opera. He also excels in expressing the emotional turmoil of Verdi's King Philip and Wagner's King Mark and Boris Godunov. Pape's approach is understated and intelligent; he doesn't need to shout or overact to convey feelings of great intensity. His voice is large and dark, but he uses it colorfully, according to the dramatic requirements of each role. Sebastian Weigle leads theStaatskeppelle Dresden and Staatsopernchor Dresden in performances of exceptional energy and refinement. Deutsche Grammophon's sound is clear and warm, with excellent balance.

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Gods, Kings & Demons (Opera Arias)

René Pape

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Faust / Act 2 (Charles Gounod)

No. 7 Ronde du veau d'or: "Le veau d'or"

Charles Gounod

00:01:57

Charles Gounod, Composer - Staatskapelle Dresden, Orchestra, MainArtist - Michel Carre, Author - Jules Barbier, Author - René Pape, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer, Bass (Vocal) - Sid McLauchlan, Producer, Recording Producer - Sebastian Weigle, Conductor, MainArtist - Men's Chorus of the Dresden State Opera Chorus, Chorus, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Ulrich Paetzholdt, Chorus Master, MainArtist, AssociatedPerformer - Roland Ott, Producer, Executive Producer - Mark Buecker, Asst. Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel - Hans-Ulrich Bastin, Recording Engineer, StudioPersonnel