Death of a classical superagent, 86

Opus 3 Artists have posted a death notice for Lee Lamont who went from being Isaac Stern’s secretary to one of the toughest global agents in the classical business.

Lee ran ICM Artists with an iron fist. She took no prisoners. One partner came back from lunch to find his office being emptied by removal men. Artists who crossed her were never forgiven.

But, tough as she was, she was funny, engaging, respectful of talent and generally good to be around. We clashed several times, once on a public platform, and managed to stay friends. Her artists included Claudio Arrau, James Galway, Yo-Yo Ma, Midori, Leonard Slatkin, Wynton Marsalis, Yefim Bronfman and Sarah Chang,

She retired in 2002.

I never knew her full name was Lenore Tagliamonte. She had a husband, August, and a daughter, Leslie.

She was the last of her kind.

God rest you, Lee.

Here’s a piece on Lee in her prime.