Tori Amos Redefines The Classics

Published January 2, 2012 at 1:34 PM EST

Genuine, passionate, powerful — that's as much of an introduction as Tori Amos needs. But for the past two decades, she's introduced her fans to plenty. She helped turn the piano into a rock instrument, showed that she can create big hits in different genres and challenged every critic who ever tried to put her in a box. And her 12th studio album, Night of Hunters, is no different.

After signing with the classical record label Deutsche Grammophon, Tori Amos was given a challenge: Create a 21st-century song cycle with variations on centuries-old classical themes. It was a daunting task, even though she was no stranger to classical music, having attended the Johns Hopkins University Peabody Conservatory of Music for five years.

Here she performs a version of "Edge Of The Moon" (Variation on: Siciliano from Flute Sonata BWV 1031, Bach) live at NPR's Studio 4A for Tell Me More.

Credits

Producers: Mito Habe-Evans, Monika Evstatieva; Videographers: Mito Habe-Evans, Becky Lettenberger, John Poole; Audio by Neil Tevault/NPR