Landmark NY artists agency goes out of business

Landmark NY artists agency goes out of business

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norman lebrecht

May 27, 2020

Barrett Artists, formerly Herbert Barrett Management, has sent a letter to its musicians telling them it cannot stay in business after the impact of Covid on bookings and revenues.

Its senior partner John Anderson is retiring at 80 and the rest cannot see a way forward.

‘With your guidance, we will do our best to find you new representation,’ says Anderson’s letter. ‘Once we have made a public announcement of my retirement and closing the office, the process may take care of itself. This will happen before the week is out.’

Herbert Barrett, who died in 2007, once had Martha Argerich, Sherill Milnes (pictured) and Ravi Shankar on his books.

The present roster includes pianist Cecile Licad, cellist Gary Hoffman and conductor Stephen Lord.

 

 

Comments

  • yujafan says:

    someone should snap up representation for Cecile Licad – she’s superb

  • Nick2 says:

    You omit mention that Herbert was initially a publicist who happened to have a good eye for talent. Apart from his alleged handshake deal which saw him represent Pavarotti for something like 35 years, he also represented and then managed artists like Alicia de Larrocha and Marilyn Horne.

    • It’s the power which seduces. says:

      Herbert Breslin as Luciano’s agent.

    • Alex Fletcher says:

      You are talking about Herbert Breslin.

    • fliszt says:

      Wrong Herbert! You’re talking about Herbert Breslin.

      • Nick2 says:

        Sincere apologies for my bad mistake! For some stupid reason I mixed up the two Herberts, both of whom I met on several occasions! In the years before he died I would usually be in the Barrett office prior to an always lovely lunch with Mary Lynn Fixler. Apologies again.

  • The View form America says:

    Oh, Lord …

  • Kolb Slaw says:

    I find that hard to believe, someone would not open their wallet.

  • Suzanne says:

    It’s “Sherrill” (not “Sherill”) Milnes.

  • Edgar Self says:

    They represented Benno Moiseiwitsch in the USA. When I lived in San Francisco I found that Moiseiwitsch had never payed there and wrote Herbert Barrett offering even to present him privately, but he wasn’t interested. I finally got to hear him for the only time live in Dallas: Kreisleriana and the Waldstein. The UK was luckier; he played everywhere there, and there are glorious records, Deo gratias.

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