Viola player to perform works of Shostakovich, Bach, others

By John Fleming, Times Performing Arts Critic
In print: Thursday, April 17, 2008

Karl Bawel
	[ATOYIA DEANS | Times]

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Karl Bawel (pictured here) thinks that Shostakovich's sonata for viola and piano is "a truly great masterwork. Shostakovich could run hot and cold, but this is really powerful." It was the last piece the Russian composer wrote before his death in 1975. Bawel, a viola player with the Florida Orchestra, will perform it this weekend with pianist Kevin Johnson, music director of St. Alfred's Episcopal Church in Palm Harbor. Their program, which also features Roger Funk, a double bass player with the orchestra, has music by J.S. Bach, Bottesini, Dittersdorf and Dall'Abaco. The performance is at 4 p.m. Sunday at St. Alfred's, 1601 Curlew Road, Palm Harbor. Free. (727) 785-1601.