Classical music producer Adam Abeshouse was identified with bile duct most cancers final spring. His purchasers — together with Simone Dinnerstein, Jeremy Denk, Joshua Bell and Lara Downes — organized a live performance at his residence studio to bid farewell.
Rick Marino/Abeshouse Productions
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Rick Marino/Abeshouse Productions
Famend classical music producer Adam Abeshouse has died.
Over a profession that lasted greater than 30 years, Abeshouse made a whole lot of data with a few of classical music’s largest stars. He gained two Grammy awards, together with Classical Producer of the 12 months in 1999.
Abeshouse died Thursday at his residence in Westchester, N.Y. He was 63. His dying was confirmed to NPR by his studio engineer.
Early in 2024, he had been identified with bile duct most cancers, and the illness swiftly metastasized. He was a producer who impressed nice love and loyalty with the artists he labored with. Shortly earlier than the tip of his life, a dozen of his superstar purchasers got here collectively to carry out for Abeshouse one final time, in a non-public live performance at his residence studio.
Adam Abeshouse understood musicians as a result of he was a musician himself.
Born on Lengthy Island in 1961, he started enjoying violin within the third grade. He studied at New York College and the Manhattan Faculty of Music, and carried out for years earlier than and after he started producing different musicians, together with such teams because the Orchestra of St. Luke’s and the Metropolitan String Quartet.
His profession as a producer began with making audition tapes for pals in a small basement studio Abeshouse constructed himself.
“I discovered that I used to be actually good teaching individuals via the method,” he instructed NPR. “This rhythm isn’t proper; this line would converse a lot better in case you aimed for this be aware. You attempt to discover the essence of the music that you simply’re enjoying.”
Abeshouse stated he needed his purchasers to really feel secure and cherished throughout the strain of recording periods.
“I didn’t care about errors as a result of we might at all times edit that out,” he stated. “And to see individuals are available in firstly — they have been form of nervous firstly. And there was at all times a degree the place you can see a change, the place individuals would chill out. You might see it and you can hear it.”
“We’ve made many many recordings collectively,” violinist Joshua Bell instructed NPR. “I’ve spent many hours with him within the studios, doing a course of which is normally excruciating for me. However with him it at all times grew to become a enjoyable time collectively. These moments have been so valuable to me.”
Bell spoke to NPR throughout the farewell live performance organized by one other of Abeshouse’s superstar purchasers, pianist Lara Downes. Musicians flew in from everywhere in the world to be there, together with Jeremy Denk, the MacArthur “genius grant” successful pianist.
“Adam has a mixture of exactitude and persistence,” Denk stated. “That’s extraordinarily important for this type of work. He’s additionally fairly within the particular person character of every musician — what they’re attempting to say, and what they’re after, what their goals and objectives in life are in a sure approach.”
Denk carried out an Ives sonata. The string trio Time for Three performed an authentic composition entitled “Pleasure.” Abeshouse produced a file with the group performing with the Philadelphia Orchestra. The recording gained two Grammys and Abeshouse stated the undertaking was one of many highlights of his profession.
Time for Three’s violinist and vocalist Nick Kendall stated Adam Abeshouse was probably the most selfless and gifted producer the group had ever labored with.
“What he stated to us earlier than we noticed him final is a mirrored image of how he’s selfless,” stated Kendall. “Earlier than we left, he stated, ‘Boys, simply proceed listening to one another.’ That hit us large, and can at all times reside with us.”
In 2002, Adam Abeshouse based the Classical Recording Basis to assist artists file music they have been enthusiastic about however may not have financial enchantment. As a result of he stated, “Recordings are simply as vital an artwork kind as reside efficiency.”
