Famous Arias and Songs for Mezzo-Soprano

✨ AN UNFORGETTABLE SUNDAY EVENING IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC ✨

The concert features some of the best-known and most beloved opera arias for mezzo-soprano: Carmen’s arias from G. Bizet’s opera *Carmen*, Dalila’s arias from C. Saint-Saëns’s opera *Samson and Delilah*, and Lyubasha’s arias from N. Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera *The Tsar’s Bride*. The programme also includes heartfelt songs by the world-famous Armenian composer Komitas, soulful romances and songs by S. Rachmaninoff, and wonderful songs by M. Saar.

The concert is hosted by acclaimed artist Eduard Tee, who will introduce the programme and the works being performed, and share interesting stories about the composers and their work.

The beautiful musical evening continues with wine and cakes. 🍷🥂🍰

Performers:
Zhenya Hovsepyan (mezzo-soprano)
Ralf Taal (piano)
Eduard Tee (concert host)

The concert takes place at Hopneri Maja, on Town Hall Square in the heart of Tallinn’s Old Town. The historic, welcoming hall, excellent acoustics, and beautiful music performed by professional musicians create an unforgettable evening.

PERFORMER BIOGRAPHIES

Zhenya Hovsepyan (mezzo-soprano)

Zhenya Hovsepyan was born in Armenia. In 2006, she graduated with honours in academic vocal performance from the Komitas State Conservatory of Yerevan and earned a master’s degree under the guidance of renowned singer Professor Gohar Gasparyan.

In 2004, Zhenya took part in the first Tamara Shahnazaryan National Singing Competition in Yerevan, receiving a diploma and a special prize from the renowned opera singer Susanna Martirosyan. Another important recognition followed in 2006, when Zhenya received the President of Armenia’s award at the National Opera Singers’ Competition in Yerevan.

In 2003, after performing at an important concert held in honour of Gohar Gasparyan, 19-year-old Zhenya Hovsepyan was invited to work as a soloist with the Tagaran ensemble at the Yerevan Chamber House. At its weekly concerts, she performed many folk and early Armenian works. From 2004, alongside her work with Tagaran, Zhenya began performing with the Sanctus quartet. She appeared with the quartet in numerous concerts in different countries, and in 2004 they released the album *Sanctus*.

In 2005, Zhenya began working as a singing teacher at Armavir Music College. In 2007, she moved to Estonia and started working as a soloist with the Russian Philharmonic Society at the Russian Cultural Centre, where she continues to perform in various concerts.

In Estonia, Zhenya has performed solo parts in several distinguished projects, including Hilarion Alfeyev’s *St. Matthew Passion*, Vsevolod Pozdeyev’s *Madam Elsa*, G. Pergolesi’s *Stabat Mater*, J. S. Bach’s *Cantata BWV 146*, Vladimir Ignatov’s opera *The Snow Queen* (the Snow Queen), *The Wizard of the Emerald City* (the Wizard), and others. Zhenya has given notable performances in Estonia, Armenia, China, Finland, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, and Georgia.

Alongside her stage work, Zhenya Hovsepyan is a vocal teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience. At her TallinnSingers vocal school, she teaches classical and pop-jazz singing as well as solfège. More than 300 students have studied under her guidance.

Ralf Taal (piano)

Ralf Taal graduated from Tallinn Music High School and the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre. In 1993, he won first place in the young pianists’ competition marking the 150th anniversary of Edvard Grieg’s birth. In 1994, Ralf Taal won the national pianists’ competition and the Con brio competition-festival for young performers, and was an Eesti Kontsert scholarship recipient in the 1994/1995 season. In 1995, he received a special prize as the youngest finalist at the Schubert International Piano Competition in Dortmund.

Ralf Taal has performed as a soloist with almost all of Estonia’s orchestras and has given numerous solo recitals. He has collaborated with conductors including Eri Klas, Paavo Järvi, Olari Elts, Arvo Volmer, Tõnu Kaljuste, and Anu Tali. His solo programmes have mainly featured music by Beethoven, Schubert, and Chopin.

Alongside his solo work, Ralf Taal has been a valued chamber-music partner to many vocal and instrumental soloists, including Ain Anger, Pille Lill, Helen Lokuta, Monika-Evelin Liiv, Indrek Vau, Oksana Sinkova, and Andrus Haav.

From 1998 to 2014, Ralf worked as a répétiteur at the Estonian National Opera; from 1993 to 2021, as a lecturer and accompanist at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre; and from 1998 to 2022 at the G. Ots Tallinn Music School. He currently works as a teacher at MuBa. In 2011, Ralf Taal received the annual award of the Music Endowment of the Cultural Endowment of Estonia. In 2014, his solo album of Chopin piano music, *Magic of Sound*, was released. Since 2022, he has given concerts with Kai Taal, interweaving music and spoken word.

Eduard Tee (concert host)

Eduard Tee is a freelance actor and director. He has been a member of the Estonian Theatre Association and the Estonian Actors’ Union since 2017. He graduated from Tallinn Tõnismäe Secondary School in 2000, the Moscow College of Printing in 2004 with a qualification in printing, the Moscow State University of Printing Arts in 2008 with a qualification in technology, and the University of Tartu Viljandi Culture Academy in 2017. In 2024, he earned a master’s degree from the Drama School of the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.

He worked at the Russian Theatre from 2017 to 2022 (as a non-staff member from 2018 to 2022), and has since worked freelance. He has also directed. Since 2019, he has taught film history at Tallinn Linnamäe Russian Lyceum, and since 2021, acting skills for singers at Tallinn Music and Ballet School. His film appearances include *Voices Behind the Hills* (2020, NM Production and others); *Göllia* (2021); *The Strange Disappearance of Comrade Kuljakov* (2022, both produced by Kino Eyes Master Consortium, BFM); and *Apteeker Melchior. Viirastus* (2022, Taska Film, Nafta Films and others).