Exclusive: Danielle De Niese quits her agent

We hear that the Countess of Glyndebourne is leaving IMG Artists in something of a huff.

She’s placing her general management in the hands of Maurice Whitaker, a former IMG touring administrator who was married at one point to the soprano Barbara Bonney. Whitaker, say former colleagues, is more of an event fixer than an artist’s agent. Intermusica will handle her concert and opera engagements.

Ms De Niese was previously managed by Mathew Horner out of IMG Artists New York.

All rather messy and (we hear) not very lovie-dovie.

UPDATE: We’ve received this clarification from Intermusica: Maurice Whitaker will act as Danielle De Niese’s General Manager, Maria Mot at Intermusica will act as her sole and exclusive world-wide Classical Manager for all classical concerts, opera, recitals, classical tours and all associated classical commercial sound and vision recordings.

24 HOURS LATER

Official announcement:

We are delighted to welcome Danielle de Niese to our roster, one of the world’s most celebrated opera singers and star of the 2015 Last Night of the Proms. 

“Her singing is utterly delectable and completely assured…Sheer ‘joie devivre’ and mastery come spilling across, to the eyes as well as the ears.”
New York Times

“One of the most sought-after singers on the planet.”
BBC Radio 3

The Australian-born American singer has been hailed “opera’s coolest soprano” by New York Times Magazine and “not just a superb performer, but a phenomenal one” by Opera News. A multi-faceted artist, de Niesehas gained wide recognition for her superb stagecraft, assured singing and her ability to communicate on every level. She regularly appears on the world’s most prestigious opera and concert stages and is a prolific recording artist, TV personality and philanthropist. Her discography includes Handel Arias, The Mozart Album, Diva and Beauty of the Baroque.De Niese is an ECHO Klassik Award winner, a recipient of Orphee D’Or by the Academie Du Disque Lyrique and a Classical Brit Award for Female Artist of the Year nominee.

Following her Glyndebourne Festival return in the Ravel Double Bill, which won her unanimous critical acclaim, de Niese will star later this week in a historical double header for the BBC Proms singing at both Last Night of the Proms at the Royal Albert Hall opposite Jonas Kaufmann, broadcast worldwide, and at Proms in the Park in Hyde Park alongside The Jacksons, Alison Balsom and Russell Watson. The unique event will be filmed and documented by the BBC.

Further operatic engagements this season include Roxanne Coss in the world premiere of Jimmy López’s Bel Canto at Lyric Opera of Chicago conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, a return to Theater an der Wien to sing Poppea in Robert Carsen’s new production of Handel Agrippina, under Thomas Hengelbrock and a European recital tour alongside Omer Meir Wellber.

Intermusica represents Danielle de Niese for all classical concerts, opera, recitals, classical tours and all associated classical commercial sound and vision recordings. She will be represented by Maria Mot in association with her General Manager, Maurice Whitaker, Director K418 Arts Management.