Famously recognized as the original Vocalist of Nightwish, Tarja Turunen is a fearless pioneer who has become one of the leading creative forces in Symphonic Metal. Beginning her career in 1996 as the co-founder of Nightwish, Tarja used her classically trained soprano voice to carve out a new Metal genre by combining her operatic vocals with heavy guitars using a fast, aggressive musical style. Becoming known as Opera Metal, with Tarja at the forefront, Nightwish became the inspiration for many bands and artists that have emerged in the scene since.
Beginning her solo career in 2005, following her departure from Nightwish, Tarja released her first solo album, a Christmas album entitled Henkäys ikuisuudesta (Breath from Heaven), in 2006. The start of something special, Tarja has built a prolific solo career in the years since, releasing music that spans Heavy Metal, Classical, and Christmas styles.
With all this in mind, Tarja has consistently been a powerful live performer, embarking on numerous solo tours with great success and support worldwide, and releasing live albums frequently. To date, she has released nine solo studio albums, three of those being Christmas albums, and eight live albums. Now, in 2025, she offers up a new album called Circus Life. Released on May 16th through earMUSIC, and taken from a live recording in 2020 (right before the world shut down), Circus Life has the distinction of being recorded with sixteen musicians with an ‘In the Round’ format at the circus in Bucharest, Romania.
A live recording that spans Tarja’s career, with her band (Guitarist Alex Scholpp, Keyboardist Christian Kretschmar, Guitarist Julián Barrett, Bassist Doug Wimbish of Living Colour, and Drummer Timm Schreiner), they are joined by an array of talented musicians and friends from across the musical world. These guests included Tarja’s brother and vocalist, Toni Turunen, Vocalist Clémentine Delauney from Exit Eden and Visions Of Atlantis, Vocalist Chiara Tricarico from Moonlight Haze, Brazilian Guitarist Rafael Bittencourt from the Metal band Angra, Percussionist Andy Paputo, Cellist Zachar Fedorov, Violinists Alexey Aslamas and Marco Cano, Violist Petr Suslik, and Keyboardist Guillermo de Medio.
Recorded with expertise, it captures the energy and passion of the performers as well as the fun and excitement of this close-knit collective relishing the chance to share the stage. Altogether, the concert sounds like a massive production, and each song is uniquely Tarja. Sweeping orchestral movements, strings, percussion, keyboards, electric guitars, and heavy drums all interplay throughout the entire concert.
For instance, the piano intro for the song “Innocence” gives way to a heavy guitar riff and soaring vocals from Turunen. This gives this concert a unique and epic feel. The result is an engaging and interesting two-hour listening and viewing experience.
Magically portraying the intimacy of the event, Tarja often speaks to the audience, her bandmates, and guest stars during the show. Additionally, fans in attendance can be heard cheering, applauding, and showering Tarja with love and positive regard.
Where previous live offerings from Tarja have included Christmas songs, Nightwish material, and Classical covers, Circus Life includes select tracks from her vast solo catalog that are all original. Notable pieces included in this performance are fan-favorites like “Victim Of Ritual” and “Demons In You.” Furthermore, the setlist structure features a balanced approach, including four songs from 2016’s The Shadow Self, four songs from 2013’s Colours In The Dark, four songs from 2010’s What Lies Beneath, and two songs from 2007’s My Winter Storm.
In the end, one of her best live albums, standout listens include “I Walk Alone,” “Until My Last Breath,” and “Innocence.” Worth adding to your collection, physical format lovers can purchase a limited edition 2 CD+Blu-ray Digipak, or limited edition Black 3 LP Gatefold, which includes an LP-sized booklet and Blu-ray softcase. Worth checking out these releases, especially if you also want to watch the concert, Cryptic Rock gives Circus Life 4 out of 5 stars.
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