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USA- Orange County's Pacific Symphony and world-renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma are teaming up to perform the world premiere of a cello concerto by Chinese-American composer Chen Yi March 10 and 11 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, California.

Yo-Yo Ma's performance of Chen Yi's "Ballad, Dance and Fantasy" for Cello and Orchestra is the centerpiece of the Pacific Symphony's American Composers Festival 2004: Tradewinds from China, which runs March 1-21.

This compelling musical and visual journey into the Cultural Revolution and "re-education" of Chinese culture explores Western influences on Eastern art and music. Unprecedented in scope and format, Tradewinds from China features works by Chen Yi, Bright Sheng, Zhou Long and Academy Award(R) winner Tan Dun. Many of the compositions will feature traditional Chinese instruments, including the pipa and the erhu.

"This year's American Composers Festival centers on the music of China, and features Chinese-American composers who have bewitchingly blended the many elements of Chinese folk music and traditional Chinese instruments with European traditions," commented Pacific Symphony Music Director Carl St. Clair.

In addition to the concerts featuring Yo-Yo Ma, there will be a concert at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on March 1 called "Diary of a Revolution;" an intimate Chamber Music concert called "Tales from the Cave" March 7 in Founders Hall at the Performing Arts Center; a Classical Connections concert March 13 titled "Sonic Fusion: East Meets West" that examines the lives and music of masterful Chinese-American composers; and a Chinese-American League Showcase for Young Musicians concert that closes the Festival March 21.

Festival participants include composers Chen Yi, Zhou Long, Bright Sheng and Joan Huang, erhu player Karen Han, pipa player Min Xiao-Fen, and Festival Advisor and Musicologist Joseph Horowitz. Concerts include discussions on the effects of the Chinese Cultural Revolution on art and society. Festival composers will also discuss their personal feelings of growing up during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and its impact on their compositions.