René Kollo, born René Kollodzieyski on November 20, 1937, in Berlin, Germany, is a renowned German operatic tenor celebrated for his Wagnerian Heldentenor roles. He grew up in Wyk auf Föhr and initially pursued photography in Hamburg before turning to music. Kollo began his musical journey as a self-taught drummer in jazz clubs and studied acting in Berlin. His operatic debut occurred in 1965 in Braunschweig, where he performed in Stravinsky's one-act operas. After two years, he joined the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Düsseldorf, focusing on lyric tenor roles.

Kollo's career flourished with performances in major opera houses, including La Scala in Milan and the Bayreuth Festival, where he began his acclaimed association with Wagnerian roles. He is particularly noted for his portrayals of Erik, Lohengrin, Walter, Parsifal, Siegfried, Tristan, and Tannhäuser. His versatility extended beyond Wagner, with roles in operas by Tchaikovsky, Beethoven, Britten, and Verdi, as well as lighter operatic and concert repertoire. Kollo also composed operettas and wrote songs, continuing a family tradition.

René Kollo married pop singer Dorthe Larsen in 1967, with whom he had a daughter, Nathalie. Since 1982, he has been married to dancer Beatrice Bouquet, and they have three children: Florence, Magali, and Oliver Walter. Kollo retired from singing in 2013, leaving behind a legacy of numerous recordings and a celebrated career in both classical and operetta music.