Former NIGHTWISH singer TARJA TURUNEN kicked of her first solo tour in Berlin, Germany at Columbia Club on November 25th - the tour is in support of her debut solo effort, My Winter Storm, that was released recently by Universal Music worldwide. She has issued the following road update:

"Good morning!

I woke up this morning and the first thing I remembered was the beautiful concert of yesterday.

I now feel in my body that something has driven over me, because every muscle hurts. Maybe too much head banging…

The truth is that I start to feel how different it is for me to perform with this band. How different, relaxed and free I can feel on the stage.

The set list of the concert is very challenging for the band and they are really giving their best. They seem to enjoy the music very much, what it is the most important thing.

Little by little we are all getting into the songs and into the show itself.

I was yesterday talking with Maria and Heidi that all this will end soon. Only 8 concerts are left and we will truly miss this feeling of being happy together. The atmosphere within the group is just amazingly good.

I have never felt like this before.

Already we are looking forward for the tour next year and I am sure it will be GREAT. I started to make some plans and to think about the songs that we will perform in the future.

I have read and heard that some of you are missing 'The Reign', 'Die Alive' and 'Minor Heaven'… For sure in the future they will be a part of our concerts. Is very comforting to see that all the songs from the album found people that loves them. Also some old favourites that we are not doing now will be heard as well.

But now, we cannot play for 3 hours.

Hungarian audience gave me what I was expecting and lot more. We had beautiful lights on stage; a bit more space to run around and the whole band felt more relaxed already. Even though it was only the second show so far!

Thank you Budapest, Hungary for making us happy.

Today we are heading to Karlsruhe, Germany.

I am looking forward to see my old school friends, walk around the city and get back the memories from my school times there.

I like Karlsruhe very much.

To share with Regina her last fight will be of course the highlight of that visit.

Let’s keep our fingers crossed for her.

Take care.

With love, Tarja."