Composers to be featured on the American tour include Judith Weir, Isang Yun, Witold Lutoslawski, Gy‹rgy Kurtšg, and Alexander Goehr. Midori will discuss the composers and their compositions on her web site, www.gotomidori.com.

"For years I have been researching repertoire and formulating ideas about how best to perform and present the music of our time. Finally I have had the good fortune to be able to put some of these ideas into action," she said in a statement.

Midori has prepared two day-long workshops in San Francisco, which ticket holders and students are invited to attend. The workshops will include listening stations, scores, videos, panel discussions, and preview performances of the repertoire, with the aim of strengthening listeners' appreciation and understanding.

The tour begins in San Francisco on March 26 with the first workshop and concludes on April 28 in Santa Cruz. Cities to be visited include Middletown, Connecticut; Buffalo, New York; Philadelphia; and New York. Her accompanist for the tour will be pianist Robert McDonald, a frequent collaborator.