Classical music producer Adam Abeshouse was recognized with bile duct most cancers final spring. His shoppers — together with Simone Dinnerstein, Jeremy Denk and Joshua Bell — carried out a live performance in his dwelling studio to bid farewell. “I used to be simply pondering of how many people wished to have fun Adam whereas he’s nonetheless right here,” stated pianist Lara Downes, who organized the occasion.
Rick Marino/Abeshouse Productions
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Rick Marino/Abeshouse Productions
On a latest Friday afternoon, Adam Abeshouse, one of many world’s main producers of classical music, lay on his mattress in his Westchester, N.Y., dwelling, propped up with pillows, ready for his ache drugs to kick in. He struggled to speak about his life’s work with a star-studded record of shoppers, which incorporates celeb violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Garrick Ohlsson.
“I labored very arduous for my shoppers,” the 63-year-old producer stated. His respiratory was labored. “I used to be dedicated to them. From the devotion to the shoppers, I developed this principle that the perfect factor that I may do for my shoppers is make them really feel secure, and beloved, and create an environment within the recording session to do their greatest.”
Final spring, Abeshouse was recognized with bile duct most cancers. It progressed with devastating pace. In August, his medical doctors advised Abeshouse he had solely weeks to dwell. One among his shoppers, pianist Lara Downes, organized an at-home live performance by the musicians he’d labored so carefully with for many years.
Downes, who additionally hosts a video dialog collection with NPR and Classical California, stated the musicians wished to provide their beloved producer an opportunity to share music collectively one remaining time.
“Someway, it labored out that we may all get right here at present to be collectively,” Downes advised NPR. “I really feel prefer it was kind of meant to be. That is Adam’s household and it’s such a present that we will do that.”
The live performance passed off within the producer’s state-of-the-art studio, adjoining to his dwelling. Abeshouse, sporting khakis and a brilliant blue polo shirt, sat listening in a wheelchair just a few ft from the performers, flanked by family and friends. He held palms with Maria Abeshouse, his spouse of 38 years.
This system opened with solo items performed by acclaimed pianists Simone Dinnerstein and MacArthur “genius” grant winner Jeremy Denk on a Steinway grand that was inbuilt 1906. Then a Grammy-winning string trio referred to as Time for Three carried out an unique composition. Subsequent up was pianist Garrick Ohlsson, broadly considered a number one interpreter of Frédéric Chopin, enjoying the composer’s Nocturne in C Sharp Minor.
Adam Abeshouse’s shoppers joined him on the studio adjoining to his dwelling for a farewell live performance. Joshua Bell, first row, from left, Adam Abeshouse, Larisa Martinez and Kevin Places. And, second row, from left, John-Henry Crawford, Charles Yang, Peter Dugan, Lara Downes, Ranaan Meyer, Garrick Ohlsson, Jeremy Denk, Nicolas Kendall and Simone Dinnerstein.
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“He was the primary producer I ever labored with who made recording — a pleasure is the incorrect phrase — however a believable pleasure,” Ohlsson stated after his efficiency. “He’s essentially the most sympathetic human. He’s acquired the perfect ears. He’s acquired the perfect musical instincts and technological wizardries. And I’ve finished possibly 30 CDs with him through the years. And he’s an expensive buddy and one of many biggest individuals I’ve ever identified.”
Movie star violinist Joshua Bell introduced his uncommon Stradivarius, crafted in 1713, to play for Abeshouse. He’d flown in from Europe the night time earlier than.
“Adam has been each an expensive, expensive buddy and he’s been my producer for the final 20 years,” stated Bell. “I’ve spent many hours with him within the studios, sitting subsequent to him, doing a course of which is normally excruciating for me — the modifying course of. However with him, it all the time turned a enjoyable time collectively. These moments have been so treasured to me.”
Bell accompanied his spouse, soprano Larisa Martinez, on a Mendelssohn aria.
Bell famous that Abeshouse can be a classically skilled violinist. “And he understands music from a violinist’s perspective,” he stated. “We simply get alongside so nicely. He’s turn into my hero on high of every part, simply the best way he’s been coping with his setbacks with such dignity. He’s simply a type of individuals who everyone loves. You by no means hear an unkind phrase about Adam Abeshouse.”
Over the course of the live performance, almost a dozen musicians performed for Adam Abeshouse. Every one embraced him after performing. At the least for one afternoon, pleasure supplanted ache.
“That is greater than I may have ever dreamed,” Abeshouse stated. “All these musicians are coming to play for me. It’s type of a miracle.”
A musical miracle to bid a classical luminary godspeed.
Edited by Neda Ulaby. Produced for the net by Beth Novey. Produced for the radio by Chloee Weiner.
