Beauty and the Beat is a live collaboration between Tarja & Mike Terrana. It’s something very different than your ordinary rock show, let alone your ordinary classic concert. It’s music played in an unorthodox manner, it’s the performance of a wide range of classical pieces and rock songs together with an orchestra and choir. It strikes you with awe. [1]
The track listing consists in a mix of classical pieces, covers from both Queen and Led Zeppelin, from her past band Nightwish, and Tarja's own songs.
Tarja Turunen explains: “The idea of having a symphonic orchestra, choir and Mr. Terrana on drums was originally mine. Mike has done a recording with drums over classical pieces that I think it is great. I immediately imagined it performed live on a stage with a real orchestra as a part of a bigger concept. I believe this kind of combination of instruments, particularly playing mainly classical music, is very unique. I have been making collaborations with orchestras before and I could foresee a great outcome. Our main goal with these kind of concerts is that the younger audience experiences the beauty and power of a symphonic orchestra and choir. Hopefully it will serve as an introduction to classical music for some of our fans.”
Mike Terrana jokingly adds: “It’s obvious that I provide the BEAT & Tarja provides the BEAUTY.”
CD1
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "Concert For Violin & Oboe (Mike)" Johann Sebastian Bach
2. "Blute Nur (Tarja)" Johann Sebastian Bach
3. "Zueignung - Op. 10, No. 1 (Tarja)" Richard Strauss
4. "Barber of Seville (Mike)" Gioachino Rossini
5. "New World Symphony (Mike)" Antonín Dvořák
6. "Song To The Moon (Tarja)" Antonín Dvořák
7. "Vilja Lied (Tarja)" Franz Lehár
8. "O mio babbino caro (Tarja)" Giacomo Puccini
9. "Can-can (Mike)" Jacques Offenbach
10. "I Feel Pretty (Tarja)" Leonard Bernstein
11. "William Tell Overture (Mike)" Gioachino Rossini
12. "Mein Herr Marquis (Tarja)" Richard Strauss
13. "Eine kleine Nachtmusik (Mike)" Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
CD2
No. Title Writer(s) Length
1. "You Take My Breath Away (Tarja)" Freddie Mercury
2. "The Reign (Tarja & Mike)" Zagoritis, Stenzel, Heldmann, Turunen
3. "Witch-hunt (Tarja & Mike)" Tarja
4. "Led Zeppelin Medley (Tarja & Mike)" Led Zeppelin
5. "Swanheart (Tarja & Mike)" Tuomas Holopainen
6. "Fly Me To The Moon (Tarja & Mike)" Bart Howard
7. "Into The Sun (Tarja & Mike)" Tarja Turunen, Anders Wollbeck, Mattias Lindblom, Steve van Velvet
8. "I Walk Alone (Tarja & Mike)"