TARJA TURUNEN Reflects On Performing "The Phantom Of The Opera" With Former NIGHTWISH Bandmate MARKO HIETALA After 18 Years In 2023, Confirms They Will Do It Again In Brazil (Video)

Thiago Rahal Mauro at Metal Musikast recently spoke with Tarja Turunen (ex-Nightwish), and during the interview, found below, she revealed the series of events that led to her  reuniting with former Nightwish bandmate Marko Hietala at Z7 Summer Nights in Pratteln, Switzerland last summer.

The duo performed Andrew Lloyd Webber's "The Phantom Of The Opera" on the night during Tarja's set on July 8th, 2023, and then again on August 3 in Savonlinna, Finland at the Olavinlinna 15th-century castle.

Tarja: "When I had accepted to be the artist of the evening (at Z7 Summer Nights), I saw that they had also invited Marko and his band to perform at the same festival. I actually sent a message that I wished to reach Marko, because I didn't have his contact any longer, to ask him to perform with me, 'Phantom Of The Opera'.  He responded 'yes', so after 18 years we were about to sing the song together, and it was super exciting. It was very beautiful. The people were very emotional. We had met before that - we had been singing together in Finland a few year before - so we kind of cleaned the table on that occasion already, so we were on good terms, so to say. But singing 'Phantom Of The Opera' together after all these years was amazing. And we're going to do it together again, and a lot more, in Brazil."