Born in Geiselhöring, Germany,[1] Saal received musical instructions in voice and instruments early.

[1] From 1 March 1782 to 30 November 1821, Saal was a member of the Viennese imperial court theatre[1][4] and bore the title K. k. Hofschauspieler.

He performed leading roles of the German and Italian repertoire, including Almaviva in Mozart's Le nozze di Figaro and Sarastro in Die Zauberflöte.

[1][2] He appeared as the minister Don Fernando in the premiere of the final version of Beethoven's opera, then called Fidelio, on 23 May 1814 at the court theatre.

Their daughter Therese Saal (1782–1855) was also a member of the court theatre from 1801 to 1805 and later married the art collector Franz Gawet (1765–1847).