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 considering of how many people wished to have a good time 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 current 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 listing of shoppers, which incorporates movie star violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Garrick Ohlsson.
“I labored very onerous for my shoppers,” the 63-year-old producer stated. His respiration was labored. “I used to be dedicated to them. From the devotion to the shoppers, I developed this idea that the most effective factor that I may 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 velocity. In August, his docs informed Abeshouse he had solely weeks to reside. One in every of 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 sequence with NPR and Classical California, stated the musicians wished to offer their beloved producer an opportunity to share music collectively one remaining time.
“Someway, it labored out that we may all get right here immediately to be collectively,” Downes informed 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 came about within the producer’s state-of-the-art studio, adjoining to his dwelling. Abeshouse, carrying khakis and a vivid blue polo shirt, sat listening in a wheelchair a couple of ft from the performers, flanked by family and friends. He held arms 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 authentic composition. Subsequent up was pianist Garrick Ohlsson, broadly thought to be a number one interpreter of Frédéric Chopin, taking part in 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 improper phrase — however a believable pleasure,” Ohlsson stated after his efficiency. “He’s probably the most sympathetic human. He’s obtained the most effective ears. He’s obtained the most effective musical instincts and technological wizardries. And I’ve finished perhaps 30 CDs with him over time. And he’s an expensive good friend and one of many best folks I’ve ever recognized.”
Celeb 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 good friend 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 often 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 also be a classically skilled violinist. “And he understands music from a violinist’s perspective,” he stated. “We simply get alongside so properly. He’s turn out to be my hero on high of all the pieces, 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, almost a dozen musicians performed for Adam Abeshouse. Every one embraced him after performing. No less than 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 sort of a miracle.”
A musical miracle to bid a classical luminary godspeed.
Edited by Neda Ulaby. Produced for the online by Beth Novey. Produced for the radio by Chloee Weiner.
