NOH Makes A Splash On US, European Charts

We’ve been loosely tracking the chart action since Night of Hunters was released, and here’s what we know:

• NOH debuted at #1 on the Billboard classical charts, #24 on the Billboard 200, and #8 on the Billboard tastemakers chart.
• On the UK charts, it debuted at #27.
• On the Dutch charts, it came in at #34.

Thanks to Mikhail Tank, matt, @iammatthewwolf, Dyana and atmoravi for the 411.

The Opera News Interview (September 26, 2011)

I would watch Tash [her eleven-year-old daughter, Natashya, who sings on the album] — just how she communicates with nature. And she sings. She’s in a trance and dances her dances around the water. And I kind of looked and I thought, “Children have this incredible sort of connection with nature, where they don’t ask questions about it. It’s just alive and real in them, and they’re not outside of it looking at it, but they’re inside of it experiencing it.” So I thought, for her to play Anabelle, the shape-shifting fox-goose, the hunter and the hunted, who is really duality, I thought that’s when nature could come alive and speak.

Tori recently chatted with Oussama Zahr of Opera News about Night of Hunters and her classical roots. In it, she even considers whether to accept an invitation to speak to students at her alma mater, the Peabody Conservatory. Click over there to see the full interview. Thanks to Oussama and Joe for letting us know about this one!

A Note About The Score...

Several people have reported that the score for Night of Hunters, an exclusive download with the deluxe edition of the album on iTunes, turns out to not have any of the music for the piano! All other instruments — the string quartet and the woodwinds — as well are the vocal lines are there, but the piano is a glaring omission. We’re not sure if this foreshadows a sheet music book for the album that will be published later or if this is just a simple omission but those of you hoping for the complete music to the album to be included in the document, be aware of this!

Thanks Paul-Roy and somacub for letting us know.

Happy Night of Hunters Release Week!

In case you weren’t paying attention to the deluge of reviews, interviews and the other flotsam and jetsam we’ve been posting over the past few days, this week marks the world-wide release of Night of Hunters. Hopefully those of you so inclined to so will be able to get your mitts on the new release by hook or crook or, if you pre-ordered, by postal delivery.

Also, just a quick reminder for those in the States that 11:59 PM Pacific tonight marks the deadline to get your entry in to the pre-release sweepstakes and a chance to win front-row tickets to a show on the North American leg of the tour or a personally-signed copy of the vinyl release of the album. Good luck to those testing their luck there!

Not to be out-done, Australian retailer JB HiFi will be giving away a framed and autographed print of the album’s cover artwork to one lucky Australian who orders either the regular or deluxe edition of the album from their website prior to October 6th. The winner will be drawn randomly from all who ordered the record online and notified soon after the October 6th deadline.

The Night of Hunters Electronic Press Kit Surfaces

Earlier today, NME posted what they indicated was a new video interview with Tori but, upon closer inspection, it’s clearly the electronic press kit for Night of Hunters as the same video appeared on various music blogs (such as iLoveMusicPop), sourced from an unlisted YouTube video from Decca Records labelled as such:

Given the that its length is just short of the 16 minutes that Universal Norway indicated was the length of the documentary on the DVD in the deluxe edition of the record, we’re guessing it’s safe to say they’re one and the same. Update: Yep, that’s been confirmed.

Thanks to Josh for catching this!

Through The Flint Glass: The Apollon Musagete Quartett

The Apollon Musagète Quartett, the award-winning collective of young musicians from Poland, trained in Vienna and wowed the world with its ability to make well-known classical works fresh and new, for its support of lesser-known Polish composers, for playing pieces for string quartet with orchestra, and for composing its own modern classical works — something a quartet has never done before. In the five short years since its birth, the Apollon Musagète Quartett has not only shaken the classical world, but earned the attention of Tori Amos, who recorded Night of Hunters with the group and is bringing them with her on a world tour in support of the new album, due out September 20 in the United States and September 26 in the UK.

This is the first time Tori has brought string musicians on tour with her, and it’s the first time the Apollon Musagète Quartett has toured with a pop musician. Together they will perform works from Night of Hunters as well as songs from Tori’s catalogue, freshly re-arranged by John Philip Shenale. The quartet is also developing a brand-new piece, inspired by Tori, that it will perform.

We recently traded emails with Apollon Musagète Quartett violinist Pawel Zalejski, who shared stories about recording with Tori, walking the Cornish seaside, and the prospect of meetings Tori’s world-famous fans. (Since English isn’t Pawel’s first language, he kindly gave us permission to “smooth out” some of his responses.) Click through to see our Q&A with Pawel.

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First Listen: Complete Stream Of Night Of Hunters On NPR

Listen to a full stream of Night of Hunters and read Ann Powers’ review of the album on NPR.org.

Thanks to Chris, Kelsey, emby, and Marci for sending this in.

The Score On The iTunes Deluxe Edition Score

When we mentioned that the iTunes US deluxe edition of Night of Hunters would also include a download of the score, a lot of people (including us) were a bit confused about what that meant, exactly.

We’ve received confirmation that the score will be the physical sheet music for all the tracks, but not just the piano parts — the parts for all of the instruments in each song. (Quick, raise your hand if you’re trying to figure out how you can become BFFs with a string quartet right now.)

There are no plans to release instrument-only audio versions of the tracks, at least not any time soon, if ever. Those are locked tightly in the vault for safe-keeping.

The Night of Hunters Pre Release Sweepstakes

ToriAmos.com is running a Night of Hunters promotion that, if you win, could net you front row tickets to one of 13 shows on the North American leg of the Night of Hunters tour and the opportunity to meet her in person at that show!

To enter the Night of Hunters Pre Release Sweepstakes, you’ll need to pre-order a copy of the new album, take a photo or a screenshot of the order confirmation, fill out the form on the sweepstakes page and upload the order confirmation image. Finally, you’ll also have to pick a stop on the tour that you would like to win tickets for. All entries must be received by 11:59 PM Pacific time on September 20th.

There will be 2 winners picked for each of the 13 concerts (Atlanta, Philadelphia, both New York shows, Washington, Boston, Chicago, Seattle, Oakland, both Los Angeles shows, Austin and Dallas). Each winner will get 2 front row tickets and the chance to meet Tori at the show. Additionally, there will be 26 winners who receive a personally signed copy of the Night of Hunters vinyl release — for those who want to enter but are unable to attend any of the eligible concerts.

Note: as the contest rules state, you must be 18 or older and a legal resident of the continental United States to enter. You can also enter the contest without pre-ordering the album by sending a postcard with your name, address, birth year and phone number to Stephanie Shim c/o Tori Amos Pre Order Sweepstakes, Decca Label Group, 825 8th Ave, 19th Fl, New York, New York 10019.

Make sure to check out the rest of the fine print for other exciting legalese too!

Good luck to all who enter!

This Is Your iTunes Deluxe Edition Bonus. This Is Your Extra.

Earlier this week, we mentioned that Night of Hunters had been added to iTunes. At the time, we suspected that there would be no special extras associated with the iTunes edition — but we were wrong!

Turns out that pre-orders for the deluxe edition on iTunes includes an exclusive link to download of the score of the record, in addition to the the videos for “Carry” and “Nautical Twilight,” and behind-the-scenes footage.

Assuming the latter is the same as the documentary included on the DVD of the physical version of the deluxe edition (though we all know what assumptions lead to!), the only extra for getting the deluxe edition on iTunes would be the score.