Tarja Turunen

Tarja used every opportunity to showcase her talent even during her school years. She attended a music high school and, after graduating, began studying music in Luopio, Finland. In 1996, she was asked by her former schoolmate Tuomas Holopainen if she wanted to participate in his music project. Tarja agreed, and together with guitarist Emppu Vuorinen and drummer Jukka Nevalainen, they founded the metal band Nightwish.

Tarja's voice - powerful and dramatic

Due to Tarja's classical vocal training, she primarily sings her songs in a classical style. The band members quickly realized that Tarja's voice had a distinctive quality and was sometimes too powerful and dramatic for acoustic music. So, they decided to adapt their music to her voice and became known for their epic song creations. The combination of heavy guitars and Tarja's classical, operatic singing style thrilled fans, and Nightwish became synonymous with symphonic metal. In 1997, the band made it into the top 40 of the Finnish charts and celebrated their breakthrough with the album "Angels Fall First."

Dramatic departure from Nightwish

In the past, there were frequent lineup changes in the band. Bassist Sami Vänskä parted ways with Nightwish in 2001. Another complicating factor, at least according to the band, was Tarja's husband and manager, Marcelo Cabuli. The relationship, especially with Nightwish mastermind Tuomas Holopainen, deteriorated significantly. A legendary letter in October 2005 ultimately ended Tarja's collaboration with Nightwish. All band members signed the public letter in which they accused Tarja of diva-like behavior and lack of commitment to the band. Tarja, however, vehemently denied these allegations.

Anette Olzon replaced Tarja in Nightwish in 2007. Her departure from the band in 2012 was also less than amicable. The current frontwoman, Floor Jansen, has been a permanent member of the band since 2013. Tarja maintained and maintains a fairly friendly relationship with both of her successors in Nightwish.

Tarja embarked on a highly successful solo career with her debut "My Winter Storm" in 2007.

Stroke after US tour

At the end of 2018, following a US tour, Tarja suffered a stroke. She made a full recovery, although doctors were unable to determine the cause of the stroke. "I was very lucky," Tarja said in an interview.