Tarja Turunen , in an interview with the Brazilian channel Metal Musikast , recounts her reunion with Marko Hietala and what she felt singing Andrew Lloyd Webber after eighteen years apart . The performance took place during her show in July 2023 at Z7 Summer Nights in Pratteln, Switzerland .
According to her, after choosing the song, she decided to contact Hietala through her press office. To the delight of the fans, the invitation was readily accepted.
The singer also mentioned that she had spoken with the musician on a previous occasion and that they had cleared up the misunderstandings that occurred during their time with Nightwish , which facilitated the duo's reunion. According to Tarja, with time, everyone matures, becomes new people, and in her own words: "Life changes people and this happened to us." Therefore, the musical connection between them was very strong, resulting in a touching moment during the concert.
When asked which song best defines her partnership with Marko, the singer said: "It's definitely 'The Phantom of the Opera,' which, despite being a cover, is very moving for me."
And she confides: “This song had a great impact on my youth; it was one of the inspirations for me to become a singer. I still remember watching the musical and seeing that soprano singing those high notes, and I wished I could do that someday.”
Tarja Turunen talks about the album 'Dark Christmas'
Regarding her Christmas-themed album Dark Christmas (2023) , she comments: “It’s an absolutely new and liberating feeling, and there’s no price you put on freedom! So I’m happy to have a wonderful team that gives me all the support I need to compose and create in my own way.”
She concludes: "It took many years for me to gain this confidence in my work and in myself, in what I am capable of doing; it's a wonderful feeling to finally feel this!"
Tarja's album, Dark Christmas , features 12 songs, available in Dolby Atmos audio. According to the website Techtudo , Dolby Atmos is a technology that enhances surround sound by adding verticality to spatial sound, promising to give televisions cinema-quality audio.
'Living the Dream the Hits Tour 2024' in Brazil
Regarding the nine shows she will perform in Brazil this March, with Marko Hietala as a special guest, the metal diva reveals: "The setlist will include songs from Nightwish, from my solo career, and some from Tarja and Marko, but that will be a surprise," she joked.
Watch the full interview on the Metal Musikast YouTube .
READ ALSO: Tarja and Marko Hietala announce more tour dates in Brazil; check it out
