Tarja Turunen

Tarja Turunen a mis en ligne sur sa page MySpace http://blog.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=blog.view&friendID=35318435&blogID=142573019&MyToken=9e4c1e03-1748-4196-9586-82238c73def0 des titres rares de Nightwish en téléchargement. Ces morceaux ne seront disponibles qu'une semaine alors dépêchez vous !

TARJA TURUNEN - Former NIGHTWISH Vocalist Re-Launches Official Website

Former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen has relaunched her official website. She has posted the following welcome note on the main page:

"Hello and welcome to my new website! http://www.tarjaturunen.com/

This is only the first step for a more challenging project we are planning. At the moment the official forum is interconnected with several fan pages. I have the idea also to connect the fans area of this website, that will include fan arts, wallpapers and photo galleries with all the fan pages. I cannot forget to thank Jarmo, our previous Webmaster, for starting the original webpage and for keeping it nicely online until now.

I hope you enjoy visiting tarjaturunen.com and we promise to keep the website updated with everything related to my career."

With love,
Tarja

As previously reported, Turunen has been hinted at as one of the potential hosts for the 2007 Eurovision Song Contest. Doteurovision ( www.doteurovision.com ) has issued the following report:

Kjell Ekholm, the Finnish member of the EBU Song Contest Reference Group told newspaper Hufvudstadsbladet, "The fact that people are already so excited about the hosts shows what a great celebration it is going to be next year." He admitted that YLE has been inundated with suggestions.

Fans of the contest and potential presenters are behind several Internet petitions that aim to lobby broadcaster YLE to back their candidates for the job.

One of the more off the wall suggestions is US talk show host Conan O Brien. His chat show 'Late Night' is extremely popular in Finland. O'Brien visited the country in February 2006 after Turku city council proposed giving him a gift of a summer cottage. He met with Finnish President Tarja Halonen, their meeting later featured in his show.

Other names in the frame include Mikko Leppilampi, Minna Haapkylä, Marco Bjurström, Irina Björklund, Peter Franzén, Axl Smith, Tarja Turunen and Maria Guzenina-Richardson. The current YLE Eurovision hosts and commentators Jaana Pelkonen and Heikki Paasonen have fans and detractors in almost equal numbers.

"We are going to have to look at the bigger picture. The public will base their opinions on what they have seen before, but they have no way of knowing what plans we have for the theme of the show," Ekholm explained.

YLE have stated that the hosts do not necessarily have to be Finnish, but they must have a clear connection with the country. Ekholm added, "The demands for the hosts are very high. They will have to have good English and at least one of them must know French. They have to be able to include humour and wit to represent Finland and preferably have a Eurovision connection and some international fame. They will need previous experience in TV presenting. We want to include some fun, like when Lill Lindfors appeared to drop her dress in 1985, but nobody has been able to top that."

YLE and the EBU will discuss potential hosts in September. The plan is to produce a shortlist of candidates before inviting those who are both interested and available to take part in an interview. The names will be announced in January.

TARJA TURUNEN - Competition Launched, Five Winners To Spend A Day In The Studio With Former NIGHTWISH Vocalist

The following announcement has been posted at former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen's official website:

"Now you have the exclusive opportunity to be in the recording studio with Tarja Turunen on 30.8.2006.

During the recording sessions for her forthcoming Christmas Album Henkäys Ikuisuudesta, Tarja decided to open the Finnvox Studio doors for you. You can be one of the witnesses of the process of making an album. But that is not all! After the recordings you will be able to have dinner with Tarja in Helsinki, Finland.

To enter this special competition, you have to guess correctly 5 songs which will be included in the forthcoming Christmas album of Tarja Turunen.

Send only the name of the 5 songs you believe as correct via e-mail to kilpailu@universalmusic.fi by 25.8.2006.

You can also send your answers by post to Universal Music Oy / Tarja Turunen kilpailu, PL 172, 00211 Helsinki, Finland (please note that letters arriving only by 25.8.2006 will be accepted to this competition).
Remember to include your complete name, age and phone number.

Amongst correct answers Tarja will make a lottery from where five winners will be chosen. They will be announced at www.tarjaturunen.com on 28.8.2006.

Universal Music will contact the winners by phone and inform them exact guidelines.

Good luck and let the game begin!

Note! Travel expenses and hotel costs will not be covered by Universal Music Oy."

TARJA TURUNEN - Former NIGHTWISH Vocalist Reveals Christmas Album Track List; Release To Be Restricted To Finland, Argentina And Online Purchase


As previously reported, former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen will be releasing a new Christmas album entitled Henkäys Ikuisuudesta (Breath From Heaven). Songs due to appear on the album (in no particular order) are as follows:
'Happy Christmas (War is Over)',
'Marian Poika',
'You Would Have Loved This',
'Mökit Nukkuu Lumiset',
'En Etsi Valtaa, Loistoa',
'Happy New Year',
'Walking In The Air',
'Kuin Henkäys Ikuisuutta',
'Jo Joutuu Ilta',
'Varpunen Jouluaamuna',
'Jouluyö, Juhlayö',
'The Eyes Of A Child',

'Magnificat Anima Mea:
Quia Respexit',
'Ave Maria'.

Go to this location http://www.tarjaturunen.com/resultados_concurso_en.html for complete song information/credits.

Fans should note that the album will be released for Christmas 2006 and will be only available in Finland, Argentina and through the webshop at Turunen's official website. http://www.tarjaturunen.com/

TARJA TURUNEN Pulls New Spectators For Savonlinna Opera Festival


The following report from Helsingin Sanomat ( www.hs.fi ):

Summer festivals draw record audiences in Finland. Nearly two million attend events this summer, but not all are paying customers.

"Finns are passionate about summer festivals. Regardless of the weather, summer events have pulled in a record number of audiences. Approximately two million people have enjoyed this summer's festivals", says Director Tuomo Tirkkonen of Finland Festivals.

Founded in 1968, Finland Festivals is the largest domestic cooperative organisation for the main cultural events in the country. Covering all types of art, the organisation has around 80 member festivals, and according to preliminary information, the annual audiences have already amounted to nearly two million.

"This summer's surprises included STING at the Pori Jazz Festival as well as TARJA TURUNEN who pulled in new spectators to the Savonlinna Opera Festival. Another surprise was the hot weather, which apparently did not leave the Finns sunbathing at their cottages but attracted them to festivals", Tirkkonen notes.

With 20 years' experience as the director of festivals, Tirkkonen never stops marvelling at the Finns' increasing enthusiasm to attend festivals.

"Finland has a tradition of summer festivals. For example, midsummer festivals are an old tradition that started generations ago. Today, the tradition continues as city festivals. Reportedly, the Finns are more active consumers of various culture events than for example the Swedes or the Irish", Tirkkonen concludes.

The number one event of the summer appears to be the Pori Jazz Festival, which attracted a record paying audience - 156,000 listeners. This was as much as 30 per cent more than last year.

One reason for the huge increase was the adult-oriented rockstar Sting whose appearances brought in over 30,000 people.

Finland's record crowd of the summer was apparently gathered at Kirjurinluoto Arena with around 34,000 listeners attending Sting's concert, according to the organisers. Some 4,000 of the visitors obviously had free tickets.

Even though Tarja Turunen's concerts at the Savonlinna Opera Festival were also sold out, the audiences there were up only some three per cent compared with last year.

Other summer events attracting large audiences were the Kotka Maritime Festival that attracted over 150,000 people, even though the number of actual tickets sold was only 15,000, and the annual Tango Festival in Seinäjoki, in Ostrobothnia, which drew a crowd of 114,000 - slightly fewer than in the last few years.

The Kaustinen Folk Music Festival attracted a total of 85,000 folk and world music lovers, while the number of tickets sold was only 34,000. However, the number of visitors to Kaustinen Folk Music Festival was 16 per cent down on the previous summer.

Many smaller festivals succeeded better than expected.

While the number of visitors to the Helsinki Festival, which ended last Sunday, is not known yet, Tirkkonen estimates that the audiences exceeded last year's 255,000.

On the other hand, with 35,200 visitors this summer, the Kuhmo Chamber Music Festival pulled some eight per cent fewer listeners than last year.

Even though the number of visitors to summer festival events is on the increase, the share of those spectators who have actually paid for their tickets is a lot smaller than the aggregate number of visitors. According to the preliminary information from Finland Festivals, a total of 460,000 tickets were sold to their festivals, which is as much as 25 per cent fewer than in the previous year.

TARJA TURUNEN - Former NIGHTWISH Vocalist Issues Studio Update, Cover Art For New Single Revealed


As previously reported, former NIGHTWISH vocalist Tarja Turunen has been working on a new solo Christmas album. She has issued the following studio update:

"Hello Everybody!

Here we are, showing you some new photos of the recordings of the forthcoming Christmas album, Henkäys Ikuisuudesta. http://www.tarjaturunen.com/en/new_album_navidad.html

We are still at Finnvox Studios. We have already been working on the album for several months. This is the biggest studio in the facility, named 'B'. Finnvox Studios actually has many different studios in the same building and we have been recording the album in some of them. Don't imagine I have been crazy enough to use a Santa hat to record. It is just for the photo! But the hat has been around in the studio since we started working on the album, together with a Christmas tree and some decorations.

As a singer, I have usually been the last one to record my parts when everything else was already done. In this album, I was not only the last one to record, but also the person that started the recordings on the first day. Now, the mixing of the album is in progress and we are on schedule to have everything ready on time.

http://www.tarjaturunen.com/images/album2/cover.jpg is the cover of the forthcoming single "You would have loved this." Hope you like it.

The single will be available in Finland next October 11th and the album Henkäys Ikuisuudesta will be out on November 8th.

I'll keep you updated with more news about the album soon!"

With Love,
Tarja

TARJA TURUNEN - New Single Postponed

Former NIGHTWISH singer TARJA TURUNEN has posted the following message at her official website:

"The record company (Universal), wanting to keep the release a bit closer to Christmas, decided to postpone the release of the single 'You Would Have Loved This' until October 25th. Release date of Henkäys Ikuisuudesta still remains the same: November 8th 2006. A new web shop is soon going to be open where you will find new merchandise items including the forthcoming Christmas single and album. Also a special Henkäys Ikuisuudesta Micro Site including all the information about the album like interviews, song samples and album cover will be soon launched. Tarja would like to inform her fans that she doesn’t have any MySpace address. Nor any other similar web page where to give official information about her activities and where to contact her fans rather than this web page tarjaturunen.com. Whatever web sites you can find about Tarja or her management are run by other people and not by herself or her management."

TARJA TURUNEN - New Single Enters Finnish Charts At #5

Former NIGHTWISH vocalist TARJA TURUNEN has entered the Finnish single charts at #5 with her latest single, 'You Would Have Loved This'. The track is written by Cori Connors, who has also composed for the legendary LINDA RONSTADT. The single contains two songs: 'You Would Have Loved This' and 'Walking In The Air' by Howard Blake. These versions are only available on this single as the album versions of 'You Would Have Loved This' and 'Walking In The Air' are different.

The song comes off Turunen's Christmas album, Henkäys Ikuisuudesta (Breath From Heaven), which is released today (November in Finland and Argentina.

A new video interview (in Finnish, with English subtitles) with Turunen about the Christmas album can be viewed at this location. http://www.universalmusic.fi/tarjamicrosite/interview.php

TARJA TURUNEN - Henkäys Ikuisuudesta Reaches Gold Status In Finland

Former NIGHTWISH vocalist TARJA TURUNEN's new Christmas album, Henkäys Ikuisuudesta, has reached gold award status (15,000 units) in Finland. Says the famed singer: “The news about the gold record is really incredible and a precious thing to me. Especially to receive it now with this Christmas album, it feels very rewarding. Thank you for your support! While we all are waiting for the Christmas to come, have a good time. See you soon in my concerts”.

TARJA TURUNEN - Henkäys Ikuisuudesta Reaches Platinum Status In Finland

Former NIGHTWISH vocalist TARJA TURUNEN's new Christmas album, Henkäys Ikuisuudesta, has reached platinum award status (30,000 units) in Finland.

A track-by-track overview of the album, direct from Tarja, can be found here.

TARJA TURUNEN Voted Best Finnish Female Singer By Iltalehti News

Former NIGHTWISH vocalist TARJA TURUNEN's website has been updated as follows:

"Year 2006 nicely surprised Tarja until the very end.

On December 30th, 2006 more than 7600 readers of Finnish newspaper Iltalehti voted in different categories for the personalities of the year 2006 in Finland.

They chose Tarja as the best Finnish female singer. Thanks a lot to the people that voted!

Tarja’s Christmas Concert tour is now over. Beside the people that assisted to the shows in Finland and Russia, YLE TV2 Channel in Finland broadcasted the show from 12.12.2006 in Lahti. The estimated audience exceeded 450.000 viewers with a 30% of the share (every third TV set was on to watch the concert).

The album Henkäys Ikuisuudesta was voted by radio music journalists in Finland as the Christmas album of the year.

Tarja is at the moment having a deserved break to concentrate in her forthcoming album that is already in the process. To close the wonderful chapter of the Christmas album and tour, we leave you here with two new photos: Tarja with the Platinum award for sales in Finland of Henkäys Ikuisuudesta (click left) and Tarja with the flowers that fans from Moscow gave her in the last concert of the tour (_high.jpg]here).

Thanks for the Moscow and Saint Petersburg fans for the flowers and for all the rest of the fans, thanks once again for the incredible amount of gifts, emails and letters received and the rewarding feeling of the applauses, smiles and tears.

A great 2006 is over and an even better 2007 is in front of us."