Arts & Events

Kent Nagano returns as conductor emeritus to lead the Berkeley Akademie Thursday night, May 20, at 8, in Mozart's Quintet in E flat for Piano and Winds, Jorg Widmann's Versuch uber die Fuge (Attempt at a Fugue) and Mozart's Concerto in A for Clarinet, at the First Congregational Church, Channing Way at Dana. 

Widmann will be present--and will play clarinet with the chamber ensemble for the Beethoven quintet, and be featured as soloist in the Mozart concerto. 

Nagano spoke of Widmann, who teaches composition and clarinet in Freiburg, as "one ofthe most visible composers in Europe, and a brilliant clarinetist," as a direct link to the tradition of Mozart and Beethoven, who were instrumentalists (and virtuosos) as well as composers, teachers and capellmeisters besides, in the days before music directors and conductors. "The only place you can do this typeof exploration is in akademies"Nagano said. 

A composition of Widmann's was featured at last year's Akademie performance; Berkeley Symphony performed his Con Brio in March, conducted by Joana Carneiro. 

Tickets: $20-$60. 841-2800; www.berkeleysymphony.org