Article by Neil Farrell
It is the end of the year, time to relax and to remember the real meaning of Christmas. That was what was printed on the inside of the program I found on my seat for Tarja Turunen's Christmas Concert Tour 2005.
I was in Savonlinna in Finland's Eastern lake region and it was winter, minus 4 degrees, crisp with snow and twilight for most of the day. The Savocentre was a large alpine concert hall, with light red walls criss crossed with black beams. Like Swiss Cottage London but on the banks of a vast lake set in pine covered hills frosted with snow. I felt lucky to be able to see all this. My flight from Helsinki had been delayed by blizzard conditions but finally I was shown to a small plane. It was unnerving to see the wings sprayed with de-icer to free up the flaps which had frozen we were told. Over Savonlinna it got very turbulent indeed. From the tiny airport I kept silent as my taxi followed an ominously dark road bordered with walls of pine trees. I was out of my depth, alone, 1300 miles from home in a country they call the ‘Gateway to Russia'.
I was shown to a seat in the first 5 rows. There was a slightly intimidating formality in the Savocentre for an older generation UK heavy metal fan. The starkly lit stage had a glossy black grand piano in its centre and on the left a smattering of tea cup sized candles flickered. Everyone had been allowed into what I'd always presumed would have been a black tie event in England although the English National Opera perform regularly at Glastonbury these days. Maybe the UK classical scene isn't as stuck up as you'd think? There was a large contingent of Finland's very own stuffed and rammed in the audience but mainly ordinary people, rock fans, children and families. Quiet and welcoming was the prevailing atmosphere and the unusual were not excluded.
The concert started promptly with Tarja striding onto the stage smack on time dressed in a Gothic white number more intimidating than any bride Dracula ever had. She took her place stage centre with the evening's musicians seated behind her, men and women all in formal black. The first song I instantly recognised but could not name sounded like Kuolema Tekee Taiteilijan from ‘Once'. Tarja's pitch perfect voice instantly mesmerised the venue, the woman is a superb singer whatever you think of her. From the program I identified it as Kun Joulu On from her Christmas single ‘One Angel‘s Dream', Finnish is an impossible language it means nothing to me but I enjoyed the song. Next was Mozart and that I did recognise. Tarja introduced the songs in a variety of languages and continued with ‘Quia respexit' (Bach's Magnificat) and Pie Jesu (Faure) She sung ‘when a Child Is Born' in English and that for me was one of the high lights of her performance that night. The emphasis she put on the title phrase and a slight Russian sounding accent made her sound endearing. In contrast her delivery throughout was formal and dignified. She kept a commanding posture smiling at the audience centre right and back. Songs sung in Finnish have a soothing effect that kept me transfixed. I believe that is down to a strong Russian Orthodox influence evident also in Nightwish's ‘Deep Silent Complete'. I'd bought a CD of the Psallo choir from Helsinki's Uspenski's cathedral earlier and it beats hell out of any chill out compilation you‘d find in HMV. It sounds like the Christmas carol Silent Night carol with a full choir harmonising.
There was a short break then she strode back in wearing a black and white striped dress. The first song was all in Finnish but next she sang the most memorable song of the evening ‘Ave Maria'. Always a favourite for Rock bands and the most potent song ever written, even more powerful than 'Abide With Me' I think . The Scorpions Germany's heavy metal old guard sing it when on tour in South America but Tarja took things one step further. She sang it in 4 languages! Each verse in a different one! Finnish, English, Spanish, German. I almost had to look at the floor during this one and the lights stayed up throughout the entire show. It was difficult to hide how powerful the emotional effect of that was. Tarja is unmatched as a singer. Simple as that!
Happy new year sung in Spanish followed. Not understanding the words added a whole new dimension.
‘Eyes Of A Child' and she sang it in English with the same exaggerated emphasis of the title phrase as ‘When a child is Born' of the first half. After ‘Ave Maria' in 4 languages not knowing whether to laugh or cry isn't how I felt. Impossible to hide how close I was to both is how it really was.
Tarja finished by singing ‘Silent Night' again in 4 languages.
Silent Night
Jouluyo juhlayo
Stille nacht, heilige nacht
Noche de paz
You try it! Better still listen to her sing yourself. It was truly unforgettable for me.
An encore followed Sibelius first and then a final one for the Nightwish fans ‘Walking In The Air' Tarja did not get a standing ovation although it was undoubtedly deserved and she glared fiercely at the classical audience. I didn't think anything was going to change and it sure didn't! As she stormed off the stage someone made a devil sign and the ex Nightwish singer made one in response.
This was a good concert and worthwhile all round. Tarja was presented with posies of flowers on stage by a series of girly Goths and outside she met the fans. The respectable crowd poured out of the exits but those of us who stayed did get to meet her. I only said 3 or 4 words but she said keetos back and that was good enough for me. She sounds Russian and a little stern which took me aback for a moment, but she was courteous polite and perfectly friendly no problems at all! I was delighted to meet the singer of one of the best rock bands I have ever heard.
