They became prominent on concert stages throughout the East, and over 7 400 Concert Grand instruments have been made. Many great pianists, such as Sviatoslav Richter, Dmitry Shostakovitch, Emil Gilels and Claudio Arrau, among others, performed on these pianos. After Mr. Hiis’ death in 1964, however, the quality of the pianos gradually declined in part due to the scarcity of high quality parts and materials during the communist regime, and changes that were made to the production methods.

When the country regained its independence in 1991, the factory’s employees struggled to keep production going, and few years later bought the factory. Through the end of 1990’s, dr. Indrek Laul, an Estonian pianist, gradually purchased company stock and became its majority owner. With a team of managers he initiated the rise of the company. The instruments were redesigned through collaborating with foremost piano experts, aiming to create an instrument of the highest level.

— Kirk Burgett, President, RPT