Tarja Turunen has released the video for 'Tango,' her collaboration with Finnish cellists Apocalyptica, taken from 'Frisson Noir,' the album the soprano released in June via earMUSIC. The nearly five-minute track arrived October 15 with a video conceived as a mini movie.
"As I have always loved the sound of the cello, Apocalyptica was the perfect artist to work with," Tarja explained, thanking Eicca Toppinen, Perttu Kivilaakso and Paavo Lötjönen directly: "Eicca, Perttu and Paavo made my dream come true." "We have known Tarja since the mid-'90s," the members of Apocalyptica said, adding that working with her had long sat at the top of their list of potential guests and describing her as the artist who "originally redefined what it means to combine classical singing with metal." Apocalyptica formed in Helsinki in 1993 and broke through with 'Plays Metallica by Four Cellos' (1996), an album of Metallica covers played only on cellos; today the cello trio works alongside drummer Mikko Sirén.
The single will also get a limited physical edition: a 10-inch vinyl pressed in 500 copies, out November 27, featuring two previously unreleased demos on side B, 'Tää Tango – Piano Demo' and 'Tää Tango – Band Demo.' Neither will be released digitally. Preorders are available through the singer's online store.
Alongside Apocalyptica, 'Frisson Noir' features her former Nightwish bandmate Marko Hietala, who sings and plays bass on 'Leap of Faith'; Dani Filth of Cradle of Filth on 'I Don't Care'; Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith on 'Against the Odds'; and shamisen player Sayo Komada on 'The Trace Outlives.' Flamenco guitarist Julián Bedmar appears on 'Anemoia,' while violinist Mervi Myllyoja and pianist Niklas Pokki play on 'At Sea,' a piece of more than ten minutes. The album was recorded across 2025 and 2026 in studios in Spain, Finland, Hungary, the UK and the US, with the Budapest Art Orchestra and Budapest Art Choir; it was mixed by Neal Avron and mastered by Ted Jensen. The record runs 12 tracks across just over 63 minutes. 'At Sea,' 'I Don't Care' and 'The Trace Outlives' were released as singles before 'Tango.' It reached No. 6 on the UK Rock & Metal Albums chart, No. 7 on its German equivalent and No. 14 in Finland.
Tarja is currently on tour in Europe. After shows on October 15 and 16 at Hyde Park in Osnabrück and the Stadthalle in Gersthofen, Germany, she plays Vienna's Simm City today and Full Metal Holiday in Mallorca on October 25.
On the same day 'Tango' arrived, Nightwish announced they were parting ways with Floor Jansen by mutual decision. The Dutch singer first performed with the band on October 1, 2012, and officially joined in 2013. The group led by Tuomas Holopainen, which Tarja founded with him and Emppu Vuorinen in 1996, plans to enter the studio in 2027 to record a new album for its 30th anniversary, while Jansen will focus on her solo career, with the album 'Hytress' due January 15, 2027. Tarja left Nightwish in 2005 and has pursued a solo career since 2007.
