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 needed to have a good time Adam whereas he’s nonetheless right here,” stated pianist Lara Downes, who organized the occasion.
Rick Marino/Abeshouse Productions
cover caption
toggle caption
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., house, 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 purchasers, which incorporates movie star violinist Joshua Bell and pianist Garrick Ohlsson.
“I labored very laborious for my purchasers,” the 63-year-old producer stated. His respiration was labored. “I used to be dedicated to them. From the devotion to the purchasers, I developed this principle that the most effective factor that I may do for my purchasers is make them really feel protected, and liked, 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 pace. In August, his medical doctors instructed Abeshouse he had solely weeks to dwell. One in all 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, stated the musicians needed to offer their beloved producer an opportunity to share music collectively one last time.
“Someway, it labored out that we may all get right here at this time 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 came about within the producer’s state-of-the-art studio, adjoining to his house. Abeshouse, carrying khakis and a brilliant blue polo shirt, sat listening in a wheelchair a number 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 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 thought to be 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.
cover caption
toggle caption
“He was the primary producer I ever labored with who made recording — a pleasure is the mistaken phrase — however a believable pleasure,” Ohlsson stated after his efficiency. “He’s essentially the most sympathetic human. He’s received the most effective ears. He’s received the most effective musical instincts and technological wizardries. And I’ve accomplished perhaps 30 CDs with him over time. And he’s an expensive pal and one of many best individuals 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 pal 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 grew to become 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 properly. He’s turn out to be 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 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 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.
