Avantasia is the side-project of Edguy singer Tobias Sammet, founded in 1999. Two concept albums were released (The Metal Opera, The Metal Opera Pt. II), their structures similar to that of an opera. Both can be classified as power metal and/or symphonic metal. After the second album, Sammet announced that there would not be any more Avantasia albums. However, in January 2008 a third album was released, titled The Scarecrow. On November 16th 2007 two 6-track albums "Lost in Space Part 1" and "Lost in Space Part 2" were released.

The cast of the Avantasia project:

The Metal Opera (Parts I and II)
Guitar
Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray)
Jens Ludwig (Edguy)
Norman Meiritz
Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius)

Bass
Markus Grosskopf (Helloween)

Drums
Alex Holzwarth (Rhapsody)

Keyboard
Tobias Sammet (Edguy)

Piano
Frank Tischer

Singers
Tobias Sammet (Edguy) as Gabriel Laymann
Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween) as Lugaid Vandroiy
David DeFeis (Virgin Steele) as Friar Jakob
Ralf Zdiarstek as Bailiff Falk von Kronberg
Sharon den Adel (Within Temptation) as Anna Held
Rob Rock (Warrior) as Bishop Johann von Bicken
Oliver Hartmann (At Vance) as Pope Clemens VIII
André Matos (ex-Shaaman, ex-Angra) as Elderane, the Elf
Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray) as Regrin, the Dwarf
Timo Tolkki (Stratovarius) as Mysterious Voice of the Tower
Bob Catley (Magnum) as the Tree of Knowledge

The Scarecrow
Guitar
Sascha Paeth
Henjo Richter (Gamma Ray)
Kai Hansen (Gamma Ray)
Rudolf Schenker(Scorpions)

Bass
Tobias Sammet

Drums
Eric Singer (KISS)

Keyboard
Tobias Sammet
Michael "Miro" Rodenburg (ex-Kamelot)

Singers
Tobias Sammet
Roy Khan (Kamelot)
Jorn Lande (Jorn)
Michael Kiske (ex-Helloween)
Bob Catley (Magnum)
Amanda Somerville (ex-Aina)
Alice Cooper
Oliver Hartmann (At Vance)