René Pape’s Wotan reigns “Live from La Scala” on May 26
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
Participating U.S. venues:
Tucson, AZ – Loft Cinema
Apple Valley, CA – UltraStar Apple Valley
Encino, CA – Laemmle Town Center 5
Pasadena, CA – Laemmle’s Playhouse 7
West Hollywood, CA – Laemmle Sunset 5
Key West, FL – Tropic Cinema
Kansas City, KS – Legends 14
Gloucester, MA – Cape Ann Community Cinema
Baltimore, MD – Charles Theatre
Chesterfield, MO – Wehrenberg Galaxy 14
Toms River, NJ – Marquee Orchard 10
Farmington, NM – Allen Animas 10
Las Cruces, NM – Allen Cineport 10
Roswell, NM – Allen Galaxy 8
Las Vegas, NV – Rave Town Sq. 18
New York, NY – Symphony Space
Schenectady, NY – Proctor’s Theatre
Tulsa, OK – Circle Cinema – Pullman Square
Bryn Mawr, PA – Bryn Mawr Film Institute
Newport, RI – Jane Pickens Theater
Herndon, VA – Worldgate 9
Burlington, VT – Roxy Cinema
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© 21C Media Group, May 2010