Release dates of the live CD/DVD: 25th November 2011 (CD), 2nd December (DVD)
HARUS – New Musical GroupAugust 12, 2011There is an old Finnish tradition when it comes to newborns – the baby is not to be named until the baptism ceremony, when he or she is presented to the family with the chosen name.A few years ago, in 2006, a new project from Tarja was born and, following the same tradition, the time has come to baptize it, to make the presentations to the family and to give it a name – HARUS.HARUS is a rather peculiar, uncommon Finnish word that describes the four tensors that keep a tent together or the tensor that keeps the mast from falling in a sailing boat.Both of the meanings apply to this musicians line up: four members, four equals, four different backgrounds to tie together exquisite classical music developed strongly and in a very stable way, with a taste of experimental, modern feel.The ever-changing waters HARUS sails on promise a unique feeling and combination for each program.HARUS are:Tarja Turunen : VocalsKalevi Kiviniemi : OrganMarzi Nyman: GuitarMarkku Krohn: PercussionLet’s give HARUS a warm welcome and expect further news very soon!
earMUSIC recently announced the release of the first official product by former NIGHTWISH singer Tarja Turunen's new project HARUS. A brand new live album/DVD will be released worldwide in collaboration with Edel's classic music division Berlin Classics. This joint venture from two music labels apparently far away from each other would probably sound bizarre at first sight (a label operating in alternative and metal music with one representing traditional classical music artists). The reason lies beneath the many sides of Tarja Turunen's music.'s widely known that Tarja's music background is in classical music. She later became one of the most important female voices of metal, first as part of multi-million seller Nightwish and later with her successful solo career, carrying her own name.After two gems of heavy rock, Tarja can finally go back to her "first love" for a while. The new live CD and DVD shows a side of Tarja's music personality that so far was only enjoyed by the lucky fans attending her classical music concerts.The first output of Harus features traditional and emotional music from Finland presented together with more international repertoire. If Tarja's vocal approach when it comes to rock music is "classical", what stands out in this new musical adventure is the modern approach to classical music.Tarja Turunen and Harus created a unique blend of organ, electric guitar, percussion and voice. Tarja has the talent to make it sound warm and soft, appealing for the purists as well as for the fans who follow her with a unique dedication.Besides Tarja's metal superstar status, Harus represents the start of a new journey, crossing genres and music cultures. Harus is a rather peculiar, uncommon Finnish word that describes the four tensors that keep a tent together or the tensor that keeps the mast from falling in a sailing boat. Both of the meanings apply to the musicians involved in Tarja's new project: four members, four equals, four different backgrounds to tie together exquisite classical music developed strongly and in a very stable way, with a taste of experimental, modern feel.Tarja has declared: "In 2006 we did our first concert together. We had such a joy and fun that we decided to keep on performing as a group. The namecame many years after when we believed it is time to make it official. What is special in HARUS is that every concert represents a magic moment. We have the freedom to be inspired by our own emotions. We hope to be able to offer you that spirit with this CD/DVD."The international release date for the live CD is November 25. The audio/video bundles (CD/DVD and CD/Blu-ray) will hit stores one week later (December 2).Harus are:Tarja Turunen: vocalsKalevi Kiviniemi: organMarzi Nyman: guitarMarkku Krohn: percussion
TARJA TURUNEN & HARUS STORYThe hall darkens. An instant hush – and then, from above, there comes the stentorian, magisterial voice of the organ. Sitting behind it is Kalevi Kiviniemi, a man whose hands have graced some of the most unique, oldest and grandest of these instruments in the world, and whose career is spangled with a vast number of recordings and awards, marking him as Finland’s most distinguished organist. Below, on the left of the stage, Markku Krohn is almost hidden behind an array of chimes and kettledrums. The percussionist of Lahti Symphony Orchestra for over twenty years, he handles his instrument with a deft touch that provokes a bright, pleasing tintinnabulation, notes falling like the snowflakes that dust the wintry scene. From the other side of the stage follow the bold, shivering notes of the guitar. Marzi Nyman has a background in jazz, playing in the UMO Jazz Orchestra, alongside myriad other side projects and bands. His is a style that boasts a smooth, evocative charisma in place of barking riffs; the guitar sings in his hands, and the audience is firmly in thrall by the time the actual singer opens her lips. Tarja Turunen cuts a serene, gentle figure at centre-stage, a world away from the rock star image for which she became famous. The warmth carried on her voice spreads to every corner of the hall.If this can be called a debut, then it has been five years in the making.Everything was there, since the very beginning: four musicians, each an expert in their field and passionate about their art; a unique style; an enraptured following. In everything but name, Tarja Turunen & Harus have been a band since 2006. And yet its members were united as much by their hectic work schedules as their classical roots. It has taken this long, but the chrysalis is opening.They first shared a stage in the summer of 2006 at Lahti Organ Festival. Working with each other was an opportunity they leapt for. Though their reputations preceded them, all nerves diminished upon that first meeting. On both a musical and a personal level, the kinship was instant and keenly felt, translating itself into a groundbreaking – and, more exhilaratingly, rule breaking – concert. The aptly named performance, ‘Crossover Organ’, veered between the traditional and the contemporary, boasting a bold and far reaching repertoire. The reverent splendour of Liturgical hymns was juxtaposed by the likes of Deep Purple and Nirvana. On paper, the chimeric progression and overlap of styles looked uncomfortable, unfathomable, more likely to provoke whiplash than anything else in the unsuspecting listeners. And yet… Classical music, the root and foundation of everything that followed it, runs like a river in the jungle of sound we inhabit today, sustaining the life of each branching subsidiary, the beating pulse that unifies every harmony we know. Genre boundaries were blurred and lost that night, but in their place something else was defined; a rich, eclectic and striking sound – the sound that was to create the band.No work experimental and unpredictable in nature can hope for a predictable reception, and so it was all the more thrilling when the concert was met with a rising swell of applause, proving to be an unanticipated, yet liberating, success. Thus, with a vision shared between themselves and affirmed by hundreds of ears, it was not hard for the band to decide, “Hey, let´s do this again!â€The collaboration formed itself easily, brimming with talent, commitment and camaraderie. In 2008, they came together to perform a series of Christmas concerts in Finland, a tradition Tarja had begun a few years past and that they continue together to this day. Each year, the tetrad combed the breadth of their country, in annual tours that were becoming longer and longer. Despite the cold weather, churches were hot with the press of bodies, and when they were full, people crowded outside in the blistering December cold.It was a project that none ever thought to nurture; it seemed simply to feed itself, strengthen itself, spreading wings that spanned the borders of Finland - and beyond. As the churches rang with hymns, and the winter air warmed with festive carols, a chord was struck in countless hearts – even those overseas. Travellers were appearing in increasing numbers from across oceans, just to sit in a pew under a vaulted roof for one night: simply to listen. For Tarja, seeing the interest and devotion they had somehow generated, even outside the country where they were performing, sparked a stark realization: here, poised atop its synergetic eyrie, a fully-fledged band was ready to take wing.The knowledge was accompanied by a kinetic wave of excitement. “I wanted to bring it out of the shadows. I wanted to bring it closer to everyone.â€With that exact purpose in mind, it was her idea to make a recording of 2009’s concert in Lahti’s Sibelius concert hall, a beautiful building, and the biggest in Finland to be built from wood in over a century – a feature it can thank for its particularly impressive acoustics. Situated in the city where they first performed together, and with a capacity of just over one thousand, Sibeliustalo is the perfect venue for an intimate concert; a reflection of the harmony and solidarity that comes from five years of being almost a band. Blending – as ever – traditional and modern pieces, with arrangements and compositions from the band members themselves, this is not an introduction, but a wave to faces already familiar, a celebration of the magic these four have been conjuring since the beginning.At the root of it all is a simple equation, a compound of four equal parts that breathes with rhapsodic innovation, unsurprisingly original, considering the musical alloys that are the band members themselves, their repertoires coloured with exotic, vibrant flavours, from jazz to heavy metal. It’s a harmonic mix, but challenging, too. Each instrument carries a strong presence. The imposing, majestic sound of the organ is a dramatic contrast to the sensual, modern ambience of the electric guitar; the gentle susurrus of chimes an unconventional compliment to the highly textured vocals. There is a fluidity common to all that unifies them into a single voice – but it can be offset by the simple surprise of hearing them together. Yet, the shocked expression of someone expecting something more traditional is one of the best kinds of feedback, at least according to Kalevi, who chuckles wryly, “That is how you know you’re making good music.â€Watching them onstage, one can see that this is where their real strength lies: in breaking boundaries; in freedom. There is no suppression of individuality here. Each player employs their own distinctive style. When each person shines, the resulting ensemble is effulgent. Classical they may be, but the band is anything but traditional.Devising a name to summarize just that was not the easiest of tasks. Many less obscure suggestions were tossed into the air at the time of baptism. ‘Harus’ was an idea that appeared early in the brainstorming, but caused some consternation when it proved to be an ambiguous word, even to native ears. Yet it was the single name to which everyone returned. It is the guy-line securing the mast of a ship, the ropes that support any object being hoisted or raised, the four connecting wires that build the framework of a tent. ‘Harus’ means support, means balance, means strength. In essence, these individual artists are the four pillars that sustain their music.“We all come from different backgrounds. We all have something different to give,†explains Tarja, “This is what really brings us together.†And together, like the gentle confluence of tributaries, these four have reached the boundless ocean.“The combination is rare, and full of challenge.†Markku reflects, quietly and smilingly optimistic. “Let’s see what will happen in the future.â€It’s a journey that promises to be intrepid – but which we leave the cartographers themselves to navigate. The waters are unchartered, but the mast is strong. The horizon is limitless.
Tracklist 01. Arkihuolesi Kaikki Heití¤02. Ave Maria Op. 8003. Ave Maria04. Maa On Niin Kaunis05. Varpunen Jouluaamuna06. Heinillí¤ Hí¤rkien07. En Etsi Valtaa Loistoa08. Jouluyí¶, Juhlayí¶ (Silent Night)09. Astral Bells10. You Would Have Loved This11. Walking In The Air12. Improvisation: Variations Sur Un Noí«lTaken from TarjaBrasil.com
Reportera: Estamos con una de las voces más poderosas y más emocionantes jamás escuchadas de verdad. Tarja, cómo estás? Cómo te va? Quíé alegría! Que alegría estar acá en este encuentro que vas a tener con tus fans argentinos. Cómo son ellos?Tarja Turunen: Son tan lindos. Muy muy amables, tenemos relación muy cariñosa con ellos. Tengo muy cariñosa relación.R: Lo que me llama la atención es lo bien que hablás en español!TT: No! bien, no! bien, no! Es un lio! lio! lio! (risas)R: De cantante lírica, naciste en Finlandia...conociste a un argentino! te viniste a vivir acá, te pasó todo muy rápido! Quíé me podíés contar?TT: Todo por amor! Todo por amor! (risas)No, pero estoy muy feliz acá, en serio estoy muy feliz. Siento que Argentina es mi país ahora. Me da libertad, puedo ir a correr, puedo hacer mi vida...como ya hice en Finlandia, pero es una forma diferente acá, la calidad de vida...R: Cuales son las diferencias?TT: La gente acá tiene la cabeza un poco más abierta, podemos hablar de los problemas, de cualquier cosa podemos hablar...tranquilos. Entonces la cultura acá es más abierta.R: Te molesta que te sigan preguntando por Nightwish?TT: No me molesta, es mi historia. En la música historia muy importante tambiíén. Nueve años estuve con la banda.R: Y ahora en quíé momento de tu carrera estás?TT: Siento que estoy en un lugar lindo. Ahora, hoy estoy en un lugar muy lindo. Tengo libertad, tengo muchos sueños, deseos...siempre tuve, pero como hoy...me pongo a trabajar a full, tengo mucha emoción, y adentro de mi siento que estoy libre, libre, libre!R: Hoy lo elegis presentar acá en Argentina.TT: Si es el primer país presentar el DVD que va a salir ahora a fin de mes.R: O sea, parás un mes acá, pero tu vida en realidad es estar en diferentes países.TT: Estoy...ay...viajando todo el tiempo!R: Cansa eso?TT: Cansa, cansa...pero yo, me encanta lo que hago. Puedo hacerlo, mi música es mi vida
TARJA TURUNEN & HARUSWORLDWIDE VIDEO PREMIERE OF“WALKING IN THE AIR†ON NOVEMBER 17th, 2011via http://www.facebook.com/harusofficial
ENTREVISTA "METALTOTAL" A TARJA TURUNENPor favor, cuíéntanos un poco de quíé va este proyecto..«Es un conjunto de cuatro músicos firme y excepcional, formado por teclado, percusión, guitarra elíéctrica y voz. Todos tenemos unas bases musicales diferentes, pero cuando estamos los cuatro juntos, funcionamos bien. Nuestra música está basada en la música clásica, con el añadido de nuestros propios gustos y algo de música contemporánea con un toque de experimentación.Este CD/DVD en directo es el primer lanzamiento de HARUS despuíés de haber hecho varias giras. El plan es continuar haciendo giras en Finlandia y en los demás países y el próximo desafio, obvio, para nosotros será grabar un álbum de estudio.»¿Cómo los conocistes y cómo comenzaste a trabajar juntos?«Nos conocimos por primera vez en Lahti en 2006, dónde dimos nuestro primer concierto en la "International Organ Week". Desde entonces hemos estado tocando juntos principalmente en navidades, debido a las diferentes agendas de cada uno.»El proyecto HARUS es un paso hacia los discos clásicos, ¿te sientes "como en casa" aquí?«Mucho, me encanta el hecho de que soy capaz de cantar tanto rock como clásico de una forma profesional. En HARUS no tenemos límites, el uso de un órgano, percusión y guitarra elíéctrica nos da la posibilidad de crear diferentes sonoridades y pintar cuadros musicalmente. Nosotros queremos llevar la música clásica al público y demostrarles que puede ser accesible y divertida.»Eres conocida principalmente por tu educación y conocimiento de la música clásica, prestando una fantástica voz en el heavy metal, ¿ves este proyecto como una última meta?«Cuando yo empecíé a cantar con una banda de metal (Nightwish), no había muchas cantantes haciendo lo mismo, por lo que mi trabajo ha sido visto como la piedra fundamental para lo que se conoce como "opera metal" por así decirlo. Soy muy feliz y estoy muy orgullosa de que a la gente le haya gustado esa mezcla y que haya tenido íéxito.»Muchos críticos de Pop/Rock han declarado que el heavy metal es la continuación de la composición clásica. Aunque esto se refiere principalmente a la composición, ¿se podría aplicar a la tíécnica vocal?«No, no lo creo. La tíécnica lírica aplicada al canto es muy diferente a la del metal, rock o pop y no creo que los cantantes de metal estíén frecuentemente influenciados por los cantantes clásicos, en mi caso desde luego fue diferente porque empecíé con la música clásica antes que con el metal.»Viniendo del duro mundo del metal, ¿con quíé te quedas de ambos mundos?«La música clásica me hace trabajar más duro con mi voz y me mantengo haciendo progresos debido a ello. No quiero dejar de seguir desarrollándome como cantante. En el rock puedo interpretar las canciones más libremente por que la tíécnica es diferente y no necesito ceñirme a la idea original del compositor. En el rock hago las canciones más personales llevándolas a mi terreno y puedo cantar mis propios arreglos o composiciones.»¿Debemos esperar a una TARJA más clásica en el futuro? ¿Algo más de HARUS quizás?«Tenlo por seguro que me verás cantando y grabando música clásica en el futuro. En pocas semanas estaríé grabando en Finlandia mi primer álbum de música clásica que consistirá en diferentes "Ave María".Recientemente hice un concierto con orquesta, coros y mi batería, Mike Terrana en Bulgaria. Lo llamamos "Beauty And The Beat". Estamos ilusionados con llevar esta idea a un tour durante el 2013.Por otro lado, con HARUS estamos planeando grabar un álbum de estudio pronto.»¿Vamos a tener la TARJA más roquera tambiíén?«Con mi último álbum "WHAT LIES BENEATH" estoy de gira por Europa desde enero del 2012 hasta mediados de marzo. Despuíés de eso visitaremos Sudamíérica y tenemos planeado grabar mi primer DVD en directo de uno de esos conciertos.»ANDREA BOCELLI, por ejemplo lleva algunas canciones tradicionales finlandesas, ¿quíé significan para tí?«No suelo ser estricta en ese aspecto, de momento tengo muchos proyectos que estoy preparando, algunos relacionados con lo clásico otros son autíénticamente heavy y otros totalmente diferentes a ambos. Pero todavía es demasiado pronto para meternos en más detalles, mis fans están de sobra enterados de mis diferentes gustos musicales y yo misma disfruto yendo de un estilo a otro, es fantástico poder hacer esto.»¿Dónde te ubican más tus padres/familia, en el mundo de la música clásica o como una reina del rock? (No te avergí¼ences de la respuesta)«Mi familia siempre me apoya, no les importa el tipo de música que sea, a mi padre le encanta el rock y al mismo tiempo se emociona en mis conciertos de música clásica. He sido muy afortunada de tener ese apoyo familiar desde los comienzos de mi carrera. Con mi madre fui a un sex-shop a comprar ropa de escenario, cuero, metal...»La mayoría del tiempo tú y tu marido la pasan en ARGENTINA, ¿echas de menos Europa alguna vez?«Me encanta Argentina, es mi refugio de paz dónde yo puedo estar con alguien si quiero. Suelo viajar mucho, por lo que no me da tiempo de echar de menos a Europa. El tiempo que tengo para estar en casa, no es demasiado largo. De cualquier manera sigo cocinando comida finlandesa, yendo a la sauna y haciendo cosas de tipo que solía hacer cuando vivía en Finlandia pero en Argentina.»¿Dónde te gustaría llevar el show, (Rusia, Brasil, Italia, Reino Unido).?«Cualquier lugar dónde la gente ame la buena música. Nos encanta tocar por todo el mundo.»¿Hay una continuación para "WHAT LIES BENEATH" en el horizonte?«He estado contínuamente trabajando en nuevas canciones desde junio de este año. Ya hay suficiente material para el disco, pero todavía quiero seguir anotando nuevas ideas que vienen constantemente. Ya hemos hecho las sesiones de fotos para el artwork y la idea es empezar las grabaciones despuíés del próximo tour, pero de todas formas no tenemos fechas concretas para el lanzamiento.»
