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 residence studio to bid farewell. “I used to be simply considering of how many people wished to have a good time 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 latest Friday afternoon, Adam Abeshouse, one of many world’s main producers of classical music, lay on his mattress in his Westchester, N.Y., residence, 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 record of shoppers, which incorporates movie star violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Garrick Ohlsson.
“I labored very laborious for my shoppers,” the 63-year-old producer mentioned. 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 might do for my shoppers is make them really feel secure, and cherished, and create an environment within the recording session to do their finest.”
Final spring, Abeshouse was recognized with bile duct most cancers. It progressed with devastating pace. In August, his docs instructed Abeshouse he had solely weeks to reside. One in all his shoppers, pianist Lara Downes, organized an at-home live performance by the musicians he’d labored so intently with for many years.
Downes, who additionally hosts a video dialog collection with NPR and Classical California, mentioned the musicians wished to provide their beloved producer an opportunity to share music collectively one ultimate time.
“In some way, it labored out that we might all get right here at the moment to be collectively,” Downes instructed 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 came about within the producer’s state-of-the-art studio, adjoining to his residence. Abeshouse, sporting khakis and a vibrant blue polo shirt, sat listening in a wheelchair a number of toes 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 thought to be 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 residence 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 mistaken phrase — however a believable pleasure,” Ohlsson mentioned after his efficiency. “He’s essentially the most sympathetic human. He’s bought the perfect ears. He’s bought the perfect musical instincts and technological wizardries. And I’ve performed possibly 30 CDs with him over time. And he’s an expensive good friend and one of many biggest individuals I’ve ever identified.”
Superstar 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 good friend 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 normally excruciating for me — the modifying course of. However with him, it at all times grew to become 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 be a classically educated violinist. “And he understands music from a violinist’s perspective,” he mentioned. “We simply get alongside so effectively. He’s turn into my hero on prime of all the things, simply the way in which he’s been coping with his setbacks with such dignity. He’s simply a kind of individuals who all people 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 very least for one afternoon, pleasure supplanted ache.
“That is greater than I might 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.
