She's best known as original member and the former lead vocalist of Finnish symphonic power metal quintet Nightwish, founded by her beside Tuomas Holopainen and Erno Vuorinen in 1996, with the first studio album, Angels Fall First, released in November 1, 1997. She was dismissed from the band on 22 October, 2005 after nine years, in the end of the Once Upon a Tour. In 2006, Tarja released a Christmas album, Henkays Ikuisuudesta, with a support classical tour between November 25 and December 26. In 2007, Tarja released My Winter Storm, an album with various styles, including alternative rock and symphonic metal, that sold over 500.000 copies worldwide. The support tour, Storm World Tour, started in November 25, 2007, and ended at London in October 19, 2009, selling out.
Tarja is Finland's most successful singer, with 3 gold awards and 3 platinum awards, having been called "the voice of Finland" by Tarja Halonen, the Finnish president.
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