Back in Brazil for the second time this year, Avantasia delivered another high-quality show in São Paulo last Saturday, the 29th, at Vibra. On tour promoting their album *Here Be Dragons* , released in February, the band skillfully balanced new songs with classics in a nearly 3-hour setlist.
Despite not having sold out, the band took the stage shortly after 9 pm to a packed audience of loyal fans. The great reception of the new album, as well as the Brazilian audience's passion for the band, was evident right from the opening, with the chorus of "Creepshow" enthusiastically sung by the crowd.
The mastermind behind the project is German Tobias Sammet , a great master of ceremonies responsible for balancing the show's technical opulence with his contagious charisma, displayed with good humor during each song break to introduce the tracks. In one of these conversations, the frontman showed awareness of some fans' resistance to hearing new music, but stopped apologizing right after "The Witch ," which was also celebrated by Brazilians. "Even before going on stage, I knew I could trust and count on you for a memorable night, São Paulo," he praised.
The current tour lineup features world-renowned metal stars and talents from other bands, such as Ronnie Atkins (Pretty Maids), Tommy Karevik (Kamelot), Kenny Leckremo (ex-HEAT), Herbie Langhans (Firewind), Adrienne Cowan (Seven Spires), and Chiara Tricarico (Moonlight Haze).
Avantasia in São Paulo: a brief and anticipated return.
In an interview with Wikimetal before landing in Latin America, the frontman explained that the brief return in 2025 was justified by the need for a longer set: "Our true performances happen when we are the only act," he said at the time. A tour already scheduled to pass through Mexico, Colombia, Argentina, and Chile also helped in the logistical decision, but the argument proved correct: the fans were eager for a longer show.
The band's last three performances in Brazil were at festivals: Free Pass Metal Festival (2019), Summer Breeze Brasil (2023) , and Bangers Open Air (2025). Tobias Sammet's project hadn't performed a full solo show here since 2016, when they brought the Ghostlights Tour – also to São Paulo, the only Brazilian city the group visited in their eight trips to the country.
The Avantasia show in São Paulo followed the planned tour setlist with 20 songs, skillfully woven together for a final stretch of classic hits in sequence: "Avantasia," "The Toy Master," "Twisted Mind," and "The Scarecrow" were some of the songs scheduled for the second half of the show, even before the encore.
The final stretch of the show featured a special moment for Brazilian fans. Before "No Return," a track recorded with Andre Matos on the album The Metal Opera Part II , Tobias received a t-shirt with the Brazilian vocalist's photo from the audience. After proudly displaying the photo and allowing the fans to chant "Andre, Andre," while others sang the lyrics of the song "Inside," which was briefly performed a cappella .
Sammet took the opportunity to pay tribute to the Brazilian singer, with whom he was a musical partner and personal friend. “The best singer to ever emerge from Latin America, one of the best singers in the entire universe, one of the best of all time, and a friend, never to be forgotten,” he declared. “I am moved and happy to have called him my friend; he is one of you, Andre Matos! God bless his soul.”
The night ended with “Sign of the Cross” and “The Seven Angels,” performed to an audience intoxicated by the grand and paradoxically human experience. Orchestrated by the brilliance of Tobias Sammet, the show is a parade of talent, fantastic tales, and faraway adventures that ultimately becomes a great gathering of friends, all eagerly awaiting their reunion.
Check out the exclusive photos from our photographer Jéssica Marinho :
READ ALSO: Avantasia Interview: Tobias Sammet talks about returning to Brazil, Andre Matos and more
