AARE SAAL is a cornerstone of Estonian baritones, having graduated from the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre with a specialization in opera singing (under Ivo Kuusk, Virgilijus Noreika, and Jaakko Ryhänen) and furthering his studies in masterclasses with Gino Bechi and Rolando Panerai in Italy. Saal won first place at the international competition “Rossini and Donizetti Voices” (1996, Italy) and is a laureate of the Georg Ots Prize (1997).

In 1989, he made his debut at the Estonian National Opera in the lead role of Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro. He has performed in over 40 opera and operetta roles in productions at both the Estonian National Opera and Vanemuine Theatre, as well as at the Latvian National Opera, Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre, Teatro Comunale di Firenze, Stockholm’s Dramatiska Ensemble, and Malmö Opera and Music Theatre.

His most notable roles include the title roles in Verdi’s Nabucco, Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Tchaikovsky’s Eugene Onegin, as well as Rigoletto in Verdi’s Rigoletto. Other key roles include Figaro (Rossini’s The Barber of Seville), Escamillo (Bizet’s Carmen), Belcore (Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore), and several roles in Verdi’s operas such as Don Carlo (Ernani), Rodrigo (Don Carlo), Renato (Un ballo in maschera), and Amonasro (Aida). Additionally, he has portrayed Yeletsky (Tchaikovsky’s The Queen of Spades), Valentin (Gounod’s Faust), Count Almaviva (Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro), Dandini (Rossini’s La Cenerentola), Marcello (Puccini’s La Bohème), Edwin (Kálmán’s Die Csárdásfürstin), Achilles (Handel’s Julius Caesar), as well as the Third Guest and U.S. Soldier (Tüür’s Wallenberg), Severo (Donizetti’s Poliuto), and many others.

Saal’s repertoire encompasses a broad selection of solo programs, including Estonian, Russian, and Italian music. In addition, he has worked as a vocal pedagogue at the Tallinn Music and Ballet School and has been an instructor at the Rapla International Summer Academy for Singers. Aare Saal is also a recipient of the Music Trust PLMF scholarship.