On a recent Friday afternoon, Adam Abeshouse, one of the world鈥檚 leading producers of classical music, lay on his bed in his Westchester, N.Y., home, propped up with pillows, waiting for his pain medicine to kick in. He struggled to talk about his life鈥檚 work with a star-studded list of clients, which includes celebrity violinist and pianist .
鈥淚 worked very hard for my clients,鈥� the 63-year-old producer said. His breathing was labored. 鈥淚 was devoted to them. From the devotion to the clients, I developed this theory that the best thing that I could do for my clients is make them feel safe, and loved, and create an atmosphere in the recording session to do their best.鈥�
Last spring, Abeshouse was diagnosed with bile duct cancer. It progressed with devastating speed. In August, his doctors told Abeshouse he had only weeks to live. One of his clients, pianist , organized an at-home concert by the musicians he鈥檇 worked so closely with for decades.
Downes, who also hosts with NPR and Classical California, said the musicians wanted to give their beloved producer a chance to share music together one final time.
鈥淪omehow, it worked out that we could all get here today to be together," Downes told NPR. "I feel like it was sort of meant to be. This is Adam鈥檚 family and it鈥檚 such a gift that we can do this.鈥�
The concert took place in the producer鈥檚 state-of-the-art studio, adjacent to his home. Abeshouse, wearing khakis and a bright blue polo shirt, sat listening in a wheelchair a few feet from the performers, flanked by friends and family. He held hands with Maria Abeshouse, his wife of 38 years.
The program opened with solo pieces played by acclaimed pianists and MacArthur 鈥済enius鈥� grant winner on a Steinway grand that was built in 1906. Then a Grammy-winning string trio called performed an original composition. Next up was pianist , widely regarded as a leading interpreter of Fr茅d茅ric Chopin, playing the composer鈥檚 Nocturne in C Sharp Minor.
鈥淗e was the first producer I ever worked with who made recording 鈥� a pleasure is the wrong word 鈥� but a plausible joy,鈥� Ohlsson said after his performance. 鈥淗e is the most sympathetic human. He鈥檚 got the best ears. He鈥檚 got the best musical instincts and technological wizardries. And I鈥檝e done maybe 30 CDs with him over the years. And he鈥檚 a dear friend and one of the greatest people I鈥檝e ever known.鈥�
Celebrity violinist Joshua Bell brought his rare Stradivarius, crafted in 1713, to play for Abeshouse. He鈥檇 flown in from Europe the night before.
鈥淎dam has been both a dear, dear friend and he鈥檚 been my producer for the last 20 years,鈥� said Bell. 鈥淚鈥檝e spent many hours with him in the studios, sitting next to him, doing a process which is usually excruciating for me 鈥� the editing process. But with him, it always became a fun time together. Those moments have been so precious to me.鈥�
Bell accompanied his wife, soprano Larisa Martinez, on a Mendelssohn aria.
Bell noted that Abeshouse is also a classically trained violinist. 鈥淎nd he understands music from a violinist鈥檚 perspective," he said. "We just get along so well. He鈥檚 become my hero on top of everything, just the way he鈥檚 been dealing with his setbacks with such dignity. He鈥檚 just one of those people who everybody loves. You never hear an unkind word about Adam Abeshouse.鈥�
Over the course of the concert, nearly a dozen musicians played for Adam Abeshouse. Each one embraced him after performing. At least for one afternoon, joy supplanted pain.
鈥淭his is more than I could have ever dreamed,鈥� Abeshouse said. 鈥淎ll these musicians are coming to play for me. It鈥檚 kind of a miracle.鈥�
A musical miracle to bid a classical luminary godspeed.
Edited by Neda Ulaby. Produced for the web by Beth Novey. Produced for the radio by Chloee Weiner.
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