TARJA – Circus Life

RELEASE YEAR: 2025
BAND URL: https://tarjaturunen.com/circus-life/

The talented Tarja Turunen recently released this 18-track live offering via earMUSIC titled Circus Life in the shape of a great-looking 2CD/Blu Ray set, and this is a rather interesting symphonic metal release for a number of different reasons.

Recorded in Bucharest just a couple of months shy of the Covid-19 lockdown in early 2020 and featuring sixteen musicians, the show feels absolutely immense, and it both looks and sounds positively massive due to the strong performances and the passion and enthusiasm that are on display. Professionalism permeates the entire 2-hour affair, but the real beauty of the thing lies in its ability to highlight the rich textures and all the little subtleties and nuances of the compositions in a splendid and vivid manner. Contrasts are in play throughout, and the songs truly benefit from the dynamics and organic nature stemming from being performed live. In other words, the looser and less rigid vibe of the tunes makes them more attractive and appealing than their studio counterparts to these ears.

Gothic grandeur, emotiveness, and melancholy are undoubtedly the focal points of Circus Life, and although this scribe is more of a casual observer and admirer of Tarja as opposed to a dedicated fan and avid listener of her music, I must say that this is an enjoyable and occasionally thrilling experience and that the overall presentation of it – and that includes the sound, the visuals, the stage set, the setlist, the musicianship, and the booklet and layout – is superb.