Tarja Turunen

Tarja Soile Susanna Turunen-Cabuli, born on August seventeenth, nineteen seventy-seven, is a renowned Finnish opera singer, composer, pianist, and songwriter. She is best known as the former lead vocalist of the symphonic metal band Nightwish, which she co-founded in nineteen ninety-six alongside Tuomas Holopainen and Emppu Vuorinen. With her dramatic, operatic vocals and a remarkable three-octave range, Turunen helped to shape the genre of symphonic metal, blending hard guitar riffs with classical influences.

After achieving critical and commercial success with Nightwish, Turunen's journey took a turn when she was dismissed from the band on October twenty-first, two thousand five, shortly after their End of an Era concert. This pivotal moment led her to embark on a solo career, beginning in two thousand six with the release of her Christmas album, Henkäys ikuisuudesta. The following year, she released My Winter Storm, which showcased her versatility across various musical styles and marked the start of her Storm World Tour.

Throughout her solo career, Turunen has continued to captivate audiences worldwide, performing at major metal festivals and releasing a series of successful albums. Notable works include her third album, What Lies Beneath, and her live DVD, Act I, filmed during her tour in Argentina. In two thousand thirteen, she launched the Colours in the Dark World Tour to promote her album of the same name, further solidifying her status as a leading figure in the music industry.

In addition to her metal albums, Turunen has explored classical music, releasing her first classical studio album, Ave Maria – En Plein Air, in September two thousand fifteen. Her discography continued to expand with the release of The Shadow Self in August two thousand sixteen and her second Christmas album, From Spirits and Ghosts, in November two thousand seventeen. Most recently, she released her third Christmas album, Dark Christmas, in November two thousand twenty-three, and her upcoming sixth metal album, Frisson Noir, is set to debut on June twelfth, two thousand twenty-six.