For other uses, see Avantasia (disambiguation).

Avantasia is a heavy metal project created by Tobias Sammet, vocalist and frontman of the group. The project's title is a portmanteau of the words "avalon" and "fantasia" ("fantasy") and describes "a world beyond human imagination" (a quotation from the booklet). The project consists of a self-titled single, two full-length albums with the subtitle The Metal Opera, two EPs called Lost in Space, and Scarecrow trilogy, composed of The Scarecrow, The Wicked Symphony and Angel of Babylon.

In Spring 1999, during Theater of Salvation tour, Tobias Sammet began to write down his ideas for a metal opera, a concept album with many guest musicians. When the tour was finished, he carried this plan out, recruiting well-known metal players like ex-Helloween singer Michael Kiske, Andre Matos, Kai Hansen, and Rob Rock (ex Axel Rudi Pell, ex Angelica, ex Warrior, Driver, Impellitteri). The project was recorded with a core band of four members - Sammet playing keyboards and arranging orchestration, Henjo Richter playing guitar, Markus Grosskopf playing bass, and Alex Holzwarth on drums. In 2001, the self-titled single and the first full-length album, The Metal Opera, was released. The project was completed in September 2002 with the release of The Metal Opera Part II.^[1]

At the end of 2006, Sammet confirmed the rumours of a third Avantasia album, due for release in 2008. On March 24, 2007, the name was confirmed to be "The Scarecrow".[1] The Scarecrow is a new story, unrelated to the previous, and tells of a lonely scarecrow seeking company in friends. The album was released on January 25, 2008, and includes special guests Rudolf Schenker, Sascha Paeth, drummer Eric Singer, and singers Bob Catley, Jørn Lande, Michael Kiske, Alice Cooper, Roy Khan, Amanda Somerville and Oliver Hartmann.^[2]

After the release of the The Scarecrow, Tobias Sammet was invited to do a headling show at Wacken Open Air, to which producer/guitarrist Sascha Paeth contributed in convincing Sammet. That led to 13 shows between July 5 and August 13. Some shows were recorded and a future DVD release is planned.

In the fall of 2009, Sammet announced the release of two new albums, The Wicked Symphony and Angel of Babylon, to be released on April 3, 2010. The story is set as a continuation of The Scarecrow.^[3] Some of the special guests include: drummers Eric Singer, Alex Holzwarth and Felix Bohnke, keyboardist Jens Johansson of Stratovarius, as well as vocalists Michael Kiske, Bob Catley, Jørn Lande, Tim "Ripper" Owens, Klaus Meine, Russell Allen, Andre Matos and Jon Oliva.^[4]

Tobias announced that the band will begin a tour in December 2010, and Avantasia was confirmed for Wacken Open Air 2011.

• Tobias Sammet
  • Lead vocals (1999-2011)
  • Bass guitar (1999-2011)
  • Keyboards (1999-2002)
• Sascha Paeth
  • Guitars (2006-present)
  • Producer (2006-present)
• Eric Singer
  • Drums (2002, 2006-present)
  • Vocals (2007)
• Miro
  • Keyboards (2006-present)
  • Orchestration (2006-present)

• Henjo Richter - Guitars (2000-2002, 2007-2008, 2010)
• Markus Grosskopf - Bass guitar (2000-2002)
• Alex Holzwarth - Drums (2000-2002, 2009-2010)

• Tobias Sammet - vocals
• Andre Matos - vocals
• Jorn Lande - vocals
• Kai Hansen - vocals (only shows in Europe)
• Bob Catley - vocals (only shows in Europe and Asia)
• Oliver Hartmann - vocals & guitars
• Amanda Somerville - vocals & backing vocals
• Cloudy Yang - backing vocals
• Sascha Paeth - guitars
• Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - bass
• Miro - keyboards
• Felix Bohnke - drums

• Tobias Sammet - vocals
• Michael Kiske - vocals
• Jorn Lande - vocals
• Bob Catley - vocals
• Kai Hansen - vocals & guitars
• Oliver Hartmann - vocals & guitars
• Amanda Somerville - vocals
• Sascha Paeth - guitars
• Miro - keyboards
• Robert Hunecke-Rizzo - bass
• Felix Bohnke - drums

• The Metal Opera:
  • Part I: The Metal Opera - 2001
  • Part II: The Metal Opera Part II - 2002

• The Wicked Trilogy:
  • Part I: The Scarecrow - 2008
  • Part II: The Wicked Symphony - 2010
  • Part III: Angel of Babylon - 2010

• The Flying Opera - 2011

• Lost in Space Part I - 2007
• Lost in Space Part II - 2007

• Avantasia - 2000
• Lost in Space (Promo Single) - 2007
• Carry me Over (Promo Single) - 2007

• The Metal Opera: Pt 1 & 2 – Gold Edition - 2008
• Lost in Space Part I & II - 2008

• Tobias Sammet's official (Avantasia) website