In the 1990s conductor Gerard Schwarz, Music Director of the Waterloo Music School and Festival, New Jersey, asked me to step in at the last minute as cello teacher, chamber music coach, and principal cellist of the Orchestra. The Festivals Founder Samuel Lipman had written a timely article about Sergei Rachmaninoff in The New Criterion, so there was no need to convince when I requested he program the Trio Elégiaque. Unfortunately, Sam was already gravely ill, and I never had the opportunity to meet him in person. The pianist in the Rachmaninoff was to be the great artist Jeaneane Dowis, Sams wife, whom I was to meet for the first time at our Trio rehearsals. We became fast friends and with the superb violinist Walter Schwede the Rachmaninoff developed into what would become in my mind a memorable performance, excerpted here but available complete on YouTube. Jeaneane and I stayed in touch over the following years and talked about future programs, but the Rachmaninoff Trio was to be our sole performance together. Last year Jeaneane passed away on December 4th. She was 82. Her husband Samuel Lipman, as well as their son, predeceased her. The following short excerpt originates from our performance at Princeton University. I offer it here in loving memory of my friend, great artist and teacher, Jeaneane Dowis (October 28, 1932 - December 4, 2013).
Posted on: Mon, 08 Dec 2014 05:17:43 +0000
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