More Ma: Call Him Mr. Multimedia

Ma can be found wearing almost all his hats in a series of projects he is unveiling during the next few months:

* On Friday, at 8 p.m., Ma brings “Tango Apasionada: The Soul of the Tango” to the Wiltern Theater, Wilshire Boulevard at Western Avenue, $16-$55, (213) 825-2101. His accomplices here will be Kathryn Scott on piano, Nestor Marconi on bandeon, Antonio Agri on violin, Harcio Malvicino on guitar and Pablo Aslan on bass. Ma’s recording “The Soul of the Tango” is out this month from Sony Classical.

* Early next year, Sony Classical will release Ma’s new recording of the Bach Solo Cello Suites, as well as “Inspired by Bach,” a series of six one-hour videos based on the suites that Ma made in collaboration with artists from other fields, including choreographer Mark Morris, Kabuki actor Tamasaburo Bando, garden designer Julie Moir Messervy and ice dancers Torvill and Dean. The films are scheduled to be aired on PBS in April. Ma will perform the Bach Suites, under the auspices of the UCLA Center for the Performing Arts, at Bel-Air Presbyterian Church in concerts on March 5 and 6. (213) 825-2101.

* On March 11, Ma joins composer-conductor Tan Dun and the Orchestra of St. Luke’s for the New York premiere of Tan’s “Symphony 1997 (Heaven, Earth, Mankind),” the vast work for orchestra, cello, children’s choir and ancient Chinese bells that was the official music of the Hong Kong reunification ceremonies. A Los Angeles performance of the symphony, with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, is in the planning stages for late 1998. The CD is available on Sony Classical.