Classical music producer Adam Abeshouse was identified with bile duct most cancers final spring. His purchasers — together with Simone Dinnerstein, Jeremy Denk and Joshua Bell — carried out a live performance in his house studio to bid farewell. “I used to be simply pondering of how many people wished to rejoice Adam whereas he’s nonetheless right here,” mentioned pianist Lara Downes, who organized the occasion.
Rick Marino/Abeshouse Productions
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Rick Marino/Abeshouse Productions
On a current Friday afternoon, Adam Abeshouse, one of many world’s main producers of classical music, lay on his mattress in his Westchester, N.Y., house, propped up with pillows, ready for his ache medication to kick in. He struggled to speak about his life’s work with a star-studded checklist of purchasers, which incorporates superstar violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Garrick Ohlsson.
“I labored very arduous for my purchasers,” the 63-year-old producer mentioned. His respiration was labored. “I used to be dedicated to them. From the devotion to the purchasers, I developed this idea that the very best factor that I may do for my purchasers is make them really feel protected, and cherished, and create an environment within the recording session to do their finest.”
Final spring, Abeshouse was identified with bile duct most cancers. It progressed with devastating velocity. In August, his docs instructed Abeshouse he had solely weeks to stay. Considered one of his purchasers, 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, mentioned the musicians wished to present their beloved producer an opportunity to share music collectively one closing time.
“Someway, it labored out that we may all get right here in the present day to be collectively,” Downes instructed NPR. “I really feel prefer it was form of meant to be. That is Adam’s household and it’s such a present that we will do that.”
The live performance happened within the producer’s state-of-the-art studio, adjoining to his house. Abeshouse, sporting khakis and a shiny blue polo shirt, sat listening in a wheelchair a couple of ft from the performers, flanked by family and friends. He held fingers 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 in-built 1906. Then a Grammy-winning string trio referred to as Time for Three carried out an unique composition. Subsequent up was pianist Garrick Ohlsson, extensively considered a number one interpreter of Frédéric Chopin, taking part in the composer’s Nocturne in C Sharp Minor.
Adam Abeshouse’s purchasers joined him on the studio adjoining to his house 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 unsuitable phrase — however a believable pleasure,” Ohlsson mentioned after his efficiency. “He’s essentially the most sympathetic human. He’s obtained the very best ears. He’s obtained the very best 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 evening earlier than.
“Adam has been each an expensive, pricey buddy and he’s been my producer for the final 20 years,” mentioned Bell. “I’ve spent many hours with him within the studios, sitting subsequent to him, doing a course of which is often excruciating for me — the enhancing course of. However with him, it at all times turned a enjoyable time collectively. These moments have been so valuable to me.”
Bell accompanied his spouse, soprano Larisa Martinez, on a Mendelssohn aria.
Bell famous that Abeshouse can also be a classically educated violinist. “And he understands music from a violinist’s perspective,” he mentioned. “We simply get alongside so effectively. He’s change into my hero on high of every part, simply the way in which he’s been coping with his setbacks with such dignity. He’s simply a kind of individuals who everyone loves. You by no means hear an unkind phrase about Adam Abeshouse.”
Over the course of the live performance, practically a dozen musicians performed for Adam Abeshouse. Each embraced him after performing. A minimum of for one afternoon, pleasure supplanted ache.
“That is greater than I may have ever dreamed,” Abeshouse mentioned. “All these musicians are coming to play for me. It’s sort 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.
