Ralf Taal

b. March 27, 1974 Tallinn
Member of the Association of Estonian Professional Musicians

Pianist Ralf Taal graduated from Tallinn Music High School in 1992 with Maigi Pakri and Bruno Lukk and from the Estonian Academy of Music on 1998 under the guidance of Lauri Väinmaa and Peep Lassmann. Taal has taken part in the master courses of Kalle Randalu, Arbo Valdma, Petras Geniushase, Boris Berman et al.

Ralf Taal has gained recognition at several national and international piano competitions: first prizes at the international competition in Ústí nad Labem (1989), Competition of Estonian Pianists (1994) and contest festival “Con Brio ‘94”. In 1995, Taal won the special prize at the Franz Schubert piano competition in Dortmund.

Ralf Taal has worked as an accompanist at the Estonia Theatre since 1998 and at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre since 1993. From the year 1998 he has taught piano at the Georg Ots Music School and since 2003 at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

As a soloist and a chamber musician Ralf Taal has performed in Estonia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Germany and Latvia. He has collaborated with such conductors as Eri Klas, Paavo Järvi, Arvo Volmer, Olari Elts, Tõnu Kaljuste, Anu Tali, Jüri Alperten, Leo Krämer and played in front of all Estonian orchestras.

Ralf Taal has been the ensemble partner to singers Mati Palm, Pille Lill, Helen Lokuta, Kristine Opolais and trumpet player Indrek Vau, clarinet player Toomas Vavilov, violinist Andrus Haav, Marie-Helen Aavakivi et al.

In 2020, Ralf Taal with violinist Marie-Helen Aavakivi released a CD of violin and piano music by Johannes Brahms, Eduard Tubin, Franz Schubert and César Franck.

For Estonian Radio Ralf Taal has recorded solo repertoire (Schubert, Chopin) as well as ensemble music.

The texts on the EMIC's homepage are protected by the copyright law. They can be used for non-commercial purposes referring to the author (when specified) and source (Estonian Music Information Centre).