On the occasion of Tarja´s concert on July 21, 2006 at the Savonlinna Opera Festival I travelled to Finland together with my parents. However, the scene of the event - Olavinlinna Castle - surely is worth a visit by itself and a perfect location for an opera performance. The imposing, medieval castle with its three prominent towers was built on a small island and is totally surrounded by water. But Olavinlinna Castle is not only impressive from the outside. A guided tour through its interior is also highly recommended, even though its also quite adventurous. Because in the many narrow, pitch-dark staircases with their high and irregular stone steps you always have to watch out that you don´t break your neck.
Anyway, on the day of the concert we safely reached the auditorium of the castle , where we had fantastic seats with a wonderful view over the whole stage. The concert was introduced with a jazzy variant of the Overture from Mozart´s Cosí fan tutte performed by the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra. It was a quite good performance, even though I have to say that I prefer the classical variant of it.
After that the long-awaited first appearance of the two stars of the afternoon took place: Tarja Turunen and Raimo Sirkiä with Phantom of the Opera. The beginning of the duet was staged perfectly with Tarja floating down a stone staircase on the left side of the stage and Raimo entering the scene from the bottom right.
Subsequently, we were pleased with Tarja´s first solo performance with Rusalka´s Aria, which really swept me off my feet. Tarja´s voice was just stunning and I could have listened to this aria for hours. The following songs were solos alternately performed by Raimo and Tarja. First Raimo belted out Lucio Dalla´s Caruso, followed by Don´t cry for me Argentina, where Tarja sung the refrain also in Spanish. Then it was again Raimo´s turn with Lamento di Federico.
Three songs from Nightwish followed. The performance of Moondance by the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra was really fantastic. Raimo´s presentation of Two for Tragedy, however, was quite poor in my opinion. I perceived it as disturbing that the Nightwish songs were the only songs Raimo needed sheets to read the lyrics, which gave the impression that these songs were not worth it to learn them by heart for him. Besides, he beat about the bush with his voice during the Nightwish songs, whereas he really gave a stunning performance while singing the arias. Tarja´s presentation of Angels Fall First, however, was brilliant.
The following duet, Written in the Stars by Elton John, was again a absolute highlight and a very successful conclusion of the first part of the concert. Fitting to the title of the song the stone wall behind the stage was decorated with a curtain of little lamps.
After the break the second part of the concert was introduced by the Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana, performed by the Kuopio Symphony Orchestra, followed by another aria sung by Raimo, Vesti la giubba, Tarja´s performance of Somewhere from the West Side Story, and another duet - There for Me - , which Tarja and Raimo sung with arms linked.
Subsequent to the duet the audience could enjoy a brilliant presentation of Freestyler, where conducter Riku Niemi gave proof of his stunning qualities as entertainer with tap-dancing and drumming on the handrails of the tiers. After that the performance of John Fogerty´s Proud Mary absolutely knocked the audience´s socks off. Now it was Tarja´s turn to show her show talents and with this song she also proofed once more great spectrum of her voice. I still can hear her singing "rollin´ , rollin` " :D
The concert came to a perfect end with another solo from Tarja - O mio babbino caro -, and with the Nightwish song Beauty of the Beast, accompanied by some members of the Opera Festival Choir. It was a special experience to hear that song live and with an orchestra. Tarja was completely in her element performing it and twirled across the stage.
The concert was appreciated by the audience with a blusterous applause, that was rewarded with a Brindisi from La Traviata as an encore.

Finally I have to say that I was very delighted with the concert. The Kuopio Symphony Orchestra did a wonderful performance and especially Riku Niemi proofed that he´s not only a great conductor, but also a brilliant entertainer. Raimo Sirkiä´s powerful voice perfectly came into effect with the arias. And Tarja accomplished it again to cast a spell over me. Her enchanting charisma and her fantastic voice were the high point of the afternoon. With this concert she not only demonstrated the great potential of herself and her voice, but she also showed that she has quite good acting abilities. For me it definitely was an afternoon I will never forget anever forget and I´m already looking forward to the next concert.

Melanie