barrettwissman - Tumblr blog

[barrettwissman]

“Festival of the Desert will be held March 18 at Sunnylands Center & Gardens and the McCallum Theater, featuring a full-day of events between the two venues.  This one-day preview of the Festival is being held under the auspices of the Del Sole Foundation and is being produced by IMG Artists and its chairman, Barrett Wissman.”

http://eluxemagazine.com/people/barrett-wissman-palm-springs/

http://barrettwissman.com/

[barrettwissman]

Festival of the Desert will be held March 18 at Sunnylands Center & Gardens and the McCallum Theater, featuring a full-day of events between the two venues.  This one-day preview of the Festival is being held under the auspices of the Del Sole Foundation and is being produced by IMG Artists and its chairman, Barrett Wissman.

http://www.palmspringslife.com/Palm-Springs-Life/Desert-Guide/March-2015/Festival-of-the-Desert-Makes-Debut-at-Sunnylands/

http://barrettwissman.com/

[barrettwissman]

Barrett Wissman – The Medici of the 21st Century

At a time when there is an outcry at how much fine arts and refined music has been neglected, and how the art industry has turned into a moneymaking machine riddled with the cheap tastes and easy profit seeking record labels, an entrepreneur and American impresario is changing the rules of the game. Barrett Wissman is not only a business visionary, but also a patron of the arts who could easily be described as the Medici of the 21st century.

Barrett Wissman is an individual who sees innovation in differentiation. Attempting to convey a new meaning for performance arts, Barrett decided at an early stage to start his own festival, not in Edinburgh or Milan, but in a calm rustique village all but familiar with prestigious music performances.

Barrett Wissman has been leading a paradigm shift in performing arts monopoly. Shifting from conventional settings and trying to bring arts and music to new places, Barrett vowed to promote refined arts and world class performances as universal and borderless. Starting with a small performance in Tuscany in an abandoned 18th century opera house, the festival soon turned into the globally acclaimed “Tuscan Sun Festival”. Wissman’s genius was soon sought across the globe as he was asked to launch a festival in North California that turned to become the Napa Valley Festival del sole.

Continue Reading Full Article…

http://gulfelitemag.com/barrett-wissman-medici-21st-century/

[barrettwissman]

[barrettwissman]

The Prodigy Behind Napa’s Festival del Sole

Barrett Wissman is all about the perfect pairing. As the co-founder of Napa’s Festival del Sole, he brings world-class musicians and performers and juxtaposes them with world-class experiences with wine and food. At age 11, he paired up with major symphony orchestras as a piano virtuoso. At Yale he studied a pair of subjects, economics and political science, then collected a pair of advanced degrees in music. He embarked upon a high-profile career on Wall Street before decamping to Los Angeles to immerse himself in the entertainment industry. He acquired a majority stake in IMG Artists, whose roster includes Joshua Bell, Renee Fleming, the Bolshoi Ballet, Audra McDonald and Itzhak Perlman, and became its chairman. A decade ago, he teamed up with Richard Walker to found Napa Valley’s Festival del Sole, a midsummer celebration of music, dance, performance, improvisation, fine wine and cuisine — what he calls “the art of life.” The festival now runs 10 days (July 17-26) and includes 47 events at wineries, parks and cultural locations that pair top-flight talent with the best of the Napa Valley.

Read entire article and interview at San Francisco Chronicle >

[barrettwissman]

Tribeca Firenze to Screen Films 13 – 17 June @ Tuscan Sun Festival

31 May 2012 – The Tuscan Sun Festival and Tribeca Enterprises, the parent company of theTribeca Film Festivalfor Robert De Niro funded by , Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff in lower Manhattan in 2002, announced today the list of world-class films to be featured as part of the film initiative, Tribeca Firenze. The newly established film program will have screenings 13 – 17 June in Florence’s Odeon Cinema, one of Italy’s most elegant and historic art noveau cinema-theatres located in the Palazzo Strozzino. The Tuscan Sun Festival and Tribeca Firenze are made possible through the principle support of the Ente Cassa di Risparmio of Florence, and with the patronage of the City of Florence. Gucci and the Cassa di Risparmio di Firenze are leading sponsors of the Festival. Tickets for film screenings are available from 1 June via the Tribeca Firenze website,http://tribecafirenze.com, and the Tuscan Sun Festival website, http://tuscansunfestival.com.

http://barrettwissman.com/tribeca-firenze-to-screen-films-13-17-june-tuscan-sun-festival/

[barrettwissman]

Robert De Niro and Barrett Wissman bring us Tribeca Firenze

New York, NY and Florence, Italy (7 May 2012) – The Tuscan Sun Festival and Tribeca Enterprises(TE), the parent company of the Tribeca Film Festival founded by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthaland Craig Hatkoff in lower Manhattan in 2002, announced today Tribeca Firenze, which will bring world-class film premieres to the widely-anticipated Tuscan Sun Festival in Florence, Italy 11-18 June, founded by Barrett Wissman in 2003. Legendary performer and 17-time Grammy winner Tony Bennett is the first major celebrity to confirm participation in Tribeca Firenze.

Tribeca Firenze joins a stunning lineup of performing artists and celebrities, food, wine, and cultural and historical exhibitions at what the UK’s The Independent newspaper described as ‘one of the ten best festivals in Europe’. The Tuscan Sun Festival and its film initiative Tribeca Firenze are made possible through the principal support of the Ente Cassa di Risparmio of Florence, are being organized under the patronage of Florence Mayor Matteo Renzi and the City of Florence, and in partnership with the Fondazione Teatro della Pergola, the Maggio Musicale of Florence, the Odeon Cinema, and the Palazzo Strozzi. Gucci, the renowned Italian fashion House with strong ties to the City of Florence, will partner with the Tuscan Sun Festival as one of the lead sponsors of the festival.

Tribeca Firenze will feature an extraordinary selection of films screened over five days, handpicked by Tribeca to complement the Tuscan Sun Festival’s broad palette of cultural offerings, bridging other art forms such as music and theatre. Tribeca Firenze will present an international film panorama.

Among the films to be screened, Tribeca Firenze will present the European premiere of the film The Zen of Bennett, with Tony Bennett and his son Danny Bennett, who created and conceived the film, introducing the film. Filmed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe, the documentary employs a voyeuristic approach while illustrating the isolation experienced by the artist in the midst of the recording sessions for his #1 album Duets II. Illustrating Bennett’s creative process are appearances by John Mayer, Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé and most poignantly, the late Amy Winehouse, all of whom recorded duets with the singer. The Zen of Bennett takes the viewer to a variety of locales including Los Angeles, Nashville, London, Italy – including a visit to Bennett’s ancestral home in Padagoni, Italy, as well as his home and art studio in New York City.

Mr. Bennett will also be giving a special performance on 18 June at Teatro della Pergola as part of the Festival’s 24 Hour Plays project. He will choose four songs that will become the inspiration for the four plays that will be written, rehearsed and performed within a period of 24 hours, and will perform each song before the play that it has inspired. The full schedule of films will be announced over the next few weeks leading up to the festival. The Tribeca Firenze screenings will be held at Florence’s Odeon Cinema, one of Italy’s most elegant and historic art noveau cinema-theatres located in the Palazzo Strozzino, originally built in 1462 during the height of the Renaissance.

The Tuscan Sun Festival is presented by the Associazione Culturale del Sole and produced by IMG Artists (IMGA), the global leader in the performing arts and lifestyle events management, and its strategic visionaries Barrett Wissman and Alexander Shustorovich. About Tribeca Firenze, Jerry Inzerillo, IMGA President and CEO said, “I’ve known Bob De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff for years, and I’m so thrilled that one of my first projects at IMGA will be to work closely with them on launching this fabulous new relationship with Tribeca. We’ve connected two organisations that strive to promote and sustain the arts. Tribeca has a film-lover’s eye for finding and promoting the world’s best movies, so their contribution to the Tuscan Sun Festival will be immediate and lasting.”

“Tribeca’s mission is to provide filmmakers with audiences who are passionate about film, to make independent film accessible to a broad international community, and to move people with the power of cinema. These ideas are at the heart of our partnership with IMGA and the Tuscan Sun Festival,” saidGeoffrey Gilmore, Chief Creative Officer of Tribeca Enterprises.

The Tuscan Sun Festival is expanding its horizons by holding the festival for the first time in its new home of Florence, the capital of Tuscany and the jewel of the Italian Renaissance. In addition to Tribeca Firenze, the Festival will also include an expansive programme of events, concerts, live theatre and culinary adventures, including John Malkovich selecting and presenting some of his best films, and performing as an actor and narrator in a special performance combining music, theatre and projections at the Teatro della Pergola on 17 June.

“The Tuscan Sun Festival has been a labour of love for me and IMGA. The Festival is at its core a platform for the world’s greatest artistic talent and a celebration of the arts. The Tribeca Firenze film programme is a natural extension of the Tuscan Sun Festival and will also reflect the quality it has come to represent. Alexander and I are excited to help launch this new offering and look forward to stars such as Tony Bennett and John Malkovich joining us in Florence and sharing their artistry at our Festival,” said Barrett Wissman, IMGA Partner and Tuscan Sun Festival Founder and Director.

# #

About The Tuscan Sun Festival

Associazione Culturale del Sole and its producer, IMG Artists, are bringing the Tuscan Sun Festival to Florence for the first time, with a programme of leading international musicians, artists, actors and chefs. Working in tandem with some of Florence’s most important venues and presenters, the festival represents another step in the city’s ambition to strengthen its position as a leading cultural destination. Tickets for the Tuscan Sun Festival can be purchased from www.tuscansunfestival.com.

About Tribeca Enterprises:

Tribeca Enterprises is a diversified global media company based in New York City. Established in 2003 by Robert De Niro, Jane Rosenthal and Craig Hatkoff, the company currently operates a network of branded entertainment businesses including the Tribeca Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival International, Tribeca Cinemas and Tribeca Film, a distribution label. It also has a strategic partnership with the Tribeca Flashpoint Media Arts Academy.

The company’s mission is to provide artists with unique platforms to expand the audience for their works and to broaden the access point for consumers to experience independent film and media.

About IMG Artists:

Dynamic, diverse and innovative, IMG Artists is the global leader in the performing arts management, touring, consulting, government advisory, facilities management, and festival business. With ten offices in eight countries, IMG Artists stays ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving world of entertainment.

About Tony Bennett:

Entering his seventh decade as a recording artist with over 100 albums and 17 Grammy Awards including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, Bennett has earned his legendary status many times over. He remains the Columbia recording artist with the greatest longevity at the label. His 2007 prime-time special, “Tony Bennett: An American Classic,” won seven Emmy Awards and was directed by Academy Award winner Rob Marshall. He has performed for 10 US Presidents, from Presidents Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Carter, Reagan, Bush Sr., Clinton, Bush Jr. and Obama. He also worked with and marched alongside Martin Luther King in his 1965 civil rights march and was honored with the Martin Luther King’s Salute to Greatness Award. In addition to performing, he is a visual artist as well, with three of his original paintings featured in the permanent collection at the Smithsonian, including his portraits of Ella Fitzgerald and Duke Ellington. His humanitarian efforts are renowned and the United Nations honored him with their Humanitarian Award in 2007. He has published three books – his autobiography, “The Good Life,” and two books of his paintings, “Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen,” and “Tony Bennett In the Studio: A Life of Art and Music.” Bennett founded, in association with the Department of Education in New York City, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts – a public arts high school in his hometown of Astoria, Queens. With his wife Susan, he established Exploring the Arts, a charitable organization which supports arts education in NYC public high schools. Exploring the Arts supports 14 public high schools throughout New York City. For more information please visit www.tonybennett.com and www.zenofbennett.com.

For further information, please contact:

Tristen Hennigs, International Press | thennigs@imgartists.com

Laura Ruggieri, Italian Press | l.r.comunicazione@libero.it

[barrettwissman]

Barrett Wissman and Placido Domingo Announce the Inaugural Placido Domingo Festival 25th OCTOBER – 3rd NOVEMBER, 2012

24th September 2012 – Plácido Domingo and IMG Artists are delighted to announce the first edition of the Plácido Domingo Festival, taking place in Seville and Malaga from 25th October until 3rd November, 2012.  Chosen by Maestro Domingo for its rich operatic and cultural heritage, the Andalucían region will play host to a feast of  performances featuring high profile stars from the operatic and concert platforms including  Vittorio Grigolo,  Ana María Martínez, Joaquín Achúcarro,Ángel Romero, Nino Machaidze, Micaëla Oeste, Angel Blue, Pinchas Zukerman, Danielle de Niese, Nina Kotova and Ivo Pogorelich.

The Festival opens on 25th October at the Maestranza Theatre in Seville with a fully-staged production of Massenet’s Thaïs.   The performance stars Plácido as Athanael alongside sopranos Nino Machaidze and Micaëla Oeste, accompanied by Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, conducted by their Artistic Director Pedro Halffter.   Further performances take place on 28th and 31st October.

The Real Alcázar in Seville provides a majestic setting for four exclusive chamber concerts, scheduled to take place in the Salón de los Tapices.  On 27th October, one of the world’s preeminent violinists, Pinchas Zukerman, performs with his trio, featuring pianist Angela Cheng and cellist Amanda Forsyth.  This is followed by a concert with the legendary Spanish guitar virtuoso Ángel Romero and celebrated Russian cellist Nina Kotova on 29th October.  Danielle de Niese – “Opera’s coolest soprano” (The New York Times) – is accompanied by Cameron Stowe on the 30th, before closing with a jazz evening featuring the talented young sopranos and Operalia prize winners Micaëla Oeste and Angel Blue on 1st November.

In Malaga, the Teatro Cervantes hosts an Opera Gala on 26th October.  Conducted by Maestro Domingo, dynamic tenor Vittorio Grigolo and Grammy® award winning soprano Ana María Martínez will be joined by Romero and accompanied by the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga.  On 28th October, Zukerman performs the Bruch: Violin Concerto No.1 and Joaquín Achúcarro plays Falla’s Noches en los Jardines de España, again with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, conducted by its Music Director, Edmon Colomer.

Ivo Pogorelich performs Chopin’s Piano Concerto No. 2 on 2nd and 3rd November, at the Maestranza in Seville, with the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla conducted by Halffter.

Plácido Domingo said:  “I am thrilled that such wonderful and highly accomplished guest artists will join me for my inaugural festival.  These will be my first performances in the culturally rich and historically important cities of Seville and Malaga in a number of years, and I am hugely excited at the prospect of returning there, as well as establishing my own festival in my beloved homeland.  I hope the festival will bring attention to Andalucía, a beautiful and evocative region of Spain that has played such an important part in operatic storytelling.”

Barrett Wissman, from IMG Artists, said, “I am delighted to partner with Maestro Plácido Domingo in this new and exciting cultural initiative.  The impact that he has made on the global cultural landscape is nothing short of phenomenal as a singer, conductor and administrator.  My partner Alex Shustorovich and I are deeply honoured to be establishing a festival under Maestro Domingo’s patronage. The support and enthusiasm with which the festival has been greeted within Andalucía reflects the passion the people have for Maestro Domingo and his artistry.  We are also very grateful for the support that our presenting partners, the Maestranza Theatre, Orquesta Filarmónica de Málaga, the Real Orquesta Sinfónica de Sevilla, and the Real Alcázar have given us, as well as the support of the cities of Seville and Malaga.”

For further information, including how to purchase tickets, please visit: www.placidodomingofestival.com

[barrettwissman]

Festival del Sole’s Eighth Season Announced

NAPA VALLEY, Calif. (March 12, 2013) –Napa Valley Festival del Sole returns to the world stage to celebrate its eighth season, July 12-21. With more than 60 custom-curated programs and star-studded performances, this year’s 10-day festival features a compelling and diverse line-up of cultural, culinary, wine and wellness experiences that offer rare insider access to Napa Valley’s most remarkable and authentic settings. www.festivaldelsole.org

One of America’s premier music and lifestyle festivals, Napa Valley Festival del Sole today stands apart by artfully pairing incredible bucket list adventures with equally memorable experiences for every budget and interest. Festival offerings range from a Great Gatsby-esque gala at Meadowood Napa Valley to an admission-free family concert with celebrity narrators to the rejuvenating Yoga In the Vineyards. Festival guests may also choose from a variety of extraordinary events at venues including a private art gallery and a fairytale castle, performances by such luminaries as Audra McDonald and Jessye Norman, young artist concerts introducing the stars of tomorrow, and the Taste of Napa showcase featuring 50 top wineries and artisanal food purveyors.

2013 Napa Valley Festival del Sole Highlights

Please see the separate festival schedule for detailed descriptions of all events

Opening gala at the 13th-century Tuscan-inspired Castello di Amorosa featuring the incomparable Audra McDonald, one of today’s brightest theatrical stars and winner of five Tony awards.

A weeklong tribute to the 140th birthday of legendary Russian composer Sergei Rachmaninoff who stands as an icon of romanticism in Russian classical music – with programming including a partial restoration of his long-lost 1939 ballet,Paganini, brought to life for the festival, an exclusive exhibit at Napa Valley Museum featuring materials uncovered during the ballet’s restoration, and a 140th Anniversary Concert and Dinner at Opus One.

Extraordinary performances by the Russian National Orchestra, returning to Napa with the festival’s biggest symphony orchestra to date.

Festival del Sole’s popular annual Dance Gala, featuring principal dancers from Ballet San Jose, the San Francisco Ballet and the American Ballet Theater with the Russian National Orchestra under the baton of George Daugherty.

The “Taste of Napa” culinary and wine showcase with tastings from 50 of the region’s leading wineries and artisanal food purveyors.

“Yoga in the Vineyards,” presented as part of the festival’s wellness series designed to nourish the body and mind.

The Festival Gala at the landmark Meadowood Napa Valleyfeaturing gourmet cuisine from the resort’s award-winning culinary team, a croquet match, special musical performances, and a live auction supporting local arts education programs.

Sun-dappled vintner’s luncheons and enchanting VIP dinners each day at Napa Valley hotspots including Spring Mountain Vineyard, Quintessa, The Napa Valley Reserve, Darioush, Alpha Omega Winery and The Hess Collection.

The Bouchaine Young Artist Series offering admission-free concert performances featuring some of today’s most gifted young musicians.

An under-the-stars dinner at Far Niente and rare concert with legendary soprano Jessye Norman singing Cole Porter and Duke Ellington.

An exhilarating installment of The 24 Hour Plays series that last year saw a dozen A-list actors including Michael Keaton, Chris Noth, Minnie Driver, Dennis Haysbert and Hugh Dancy rehearse and perform a series of one-act plays in just 24 hours.

Concert performances by Jean-Yves Thibaudet, Sarah Chang, Nina Kotova, Elena Maximova, Ekaterina Scherbachenko and others.

Event Hosts

The 2013 Napa Valley Festival del Sole counts nearly 30 of the region’s leading wineries, resorts, performance venues and estates as its hosts, including: Alpha Omega Winery, Bardessono, Jean-Charles Boisset and Gina Gallo’s Wappo Hill Estate, Castello di Amorosa, Constant Diamond Mountain Vineyard, Darioush, Domaine Carneros, Far Niente, Weill Hall at Green Music Center, Grgich Hills Estate, HALL Napa Valley, Jamieson Ranch & Vineyards, Jarvis Conservatory, Keller Estate, Kristine Ashe Vineyards, Napa Valley Performing Arts Center at Lincoln Theater, Ma(i)sonry Napa Valley, Meadowood Napa Valley, Miner Family Wines, Napa Valley Country Club, Napa Valley Museum, Opus One, Quintessa, Silver Oak Cellars, Spring Mountain Vineyard, The Hess Collection, The Napa Valley Reserve, Sterling Vineyards.

About Napa Valley Festival del Sole

One of America’s premier music and lifestyle festivals, Napa Valley Festival del Sole blends world-class music, theater and dance with the region’s fine wine and cuisine in a celebration of the art of life. The 10-day summer festival features performances by renowned artists and emerging talent, gala events at stunning wineries, resorts and estates, free community concerts, a wellness series promoting healthy living, and year-round arts education initiatives.

Since 2006, Festival del Sole has presented more than 175 artists and ensembles in venues throughout Napa Valley and partnered with more than 200 wineries, hotels and local businesses, and has attracted nearly 10,000 audience members and visitors each season. The festival is a nonprofit public benefit organization operating under the auspices of Napa Valley Festival Association, and is produced by IMG Artists.

The festival’s 8th gala season takes place July 12 – 21, 2013. For further information and full festival schedule details, visit www.festivaldelsole.org

[barrettwissman]

The Tuscan Sun Festival Wins the Tuscan-American Award 2011

Festival Founders Barrett Wissman and Nina Kotova Accept Award

The TUSCAN SUN FESTIVAL, produced by IMG Artists, won the Tuscan-American Award (TAA) for 2011 on September 22nd in Florence.  Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012, the Festival was given the award in recognition of its contribution to increasing cultural exchange and friendly relationships between the people of Tuscany and the people of the United States of America.  The award also recognises the quality and prestige of the Tuscan Sun Festival’s programming that has brought the little jewel town of Cortona, Italy, to international recognition.

The Tuscan-American Award for the Tuscan Sun Festival was presented to the founders of the Festival, Barrett Wissman and Nina Kotova, by the Tuscan American Association in Florence.  Italian and American visitors together make the highest proportion of Tuscan Sun Festival attendees.  Further American associations with the Tuscan Sun Festival include concert appearances with American artists such as actors Robert Redford and Anthony Hopkins, violinist Joshua Bell and soprano Renee Fleming; literary events led  by writer and festival co-founder Frances Mayes; major exposure on the US network The Cooking Channel (Extra Virgin programme); previous sponsorship by American Express.

www.TuscanSunFestival.com >>

[barrettwissman]

Since Barrett Wissman became involved with IMG Artists, the company has been expanding with new offices and festivals around the world.

Robin Newton reports…. THERE WAS A TIME NOT SO LONG ago when IMG, along with CAMI, dominated artist  management. The power they wielded gave them an unprecedented level of influence and control; and that was quickly turned into serious money.

The foundations of IMG, however, lay in sport where the constant influx of new stars and the constant exposure of existing champions provide seemingly endless revenue opportunities. The arts, with the exception of a few proven long-term performers, did not yield such riches. By the beginning of the 21st century, the artist management branch of IMG was failing; some reports claimed annual losses of £1m ($1.7m).

Clearly, something had to change. IMG decided to sell its artist management arm but found buyers hard to come by. In 2003, Mark McCormack, the founder and heartbeat of IMG, died suddenly, making the situation more urgent: there was no clear way forward but swift action was essential.

S e e m i n g l y out of the blue, Barrett Wissman appeared. His offer to buy a majority share of IMG’s artist management business was accepted with alacrity and a new era began. Now rebranded as IMG Artists, 70% of the company is owned by Wissman with the remaining 30% remaining in the hands of IMG.

Not surprisingly, Wissman’s appearance generated more questions than it answered. Although his background showed a love of music – he trained as a pianist, has a degree in music and married the cellist Nina Kotova – there was nothing apparent in his professional past to suggest why he might want to take over IMG Artists.

Wissman, however, has been great success. IMG Artists has experienced a considerable recovery: turnover has increased by 40% in two years and is expected to grow between 10% and 15% more in 2006. Add to that a new Singapore office opened in October 2005 with another opened earlier in Italy and things certainly look good for IMG Artists.

Wissman’s belief is that the world of artist management must change rapidly if it is to build a future for itself. ‘There is so much going on around the world today, not just in our kind of music but in all areas, that we are in danger of losing our audience if we don’t nurture it. We as an agency cannot behave as we used to, simply booking artists into engagements the world over and taking commission. We have to work on building our audience. We have to give our artists the opportunity to be involved directly with the public. We have to reenliven the arts and not just take money out. Our job as arts managers is to move in new directions and, because we’re in touch with so many artists at the same time, we’re in a perfect position to do exactly that.’

The challenge facing artist management, Wissman feels, is combining global reach with local understanding. In some ways there is nothing new in this concept; larger agencies with an international remit have commonly relied on small, local agencies for information. Wissman’s modification, however, is to have many smaller offices all under a single management umbrella.

‘Local knowledge is vital,’ he says. ‘It is important to be global because we need to be aware of all the potential opportunities for our artists. without knowing what is happening on the ground, though, we would never discover these opportunities. The reason we have offices in all these places – which now includes New York, London, Paris, Lucca, Kuala Lumpur and Singapore – is build relationships with local organisations, ministries of culture and so forth.’

Nevertheless, building such a network is only valuable if it is used in the right way. Wissman believes that the key to unlocking this potential lies in creating events. ‘It is essential for us as managers to keep the business of music making alive. You see this on the pop side of the fence with constant thinking about marketing and publicity – always coming up with new ways of getting people interested. I don’t believe that we should necessarily copy that and I am absolutely certain that our art should remain pure but I am quite sure that there are other ways of getting people interested. We want things that become infectious; success stories that everybody wants to buy into. ‘I want to try to create events that bring people together, events that artists really want to come to, events that encourage audiences to get involved and to engage more with the performers.

Four years ago Wissman founded The Tuscan Sun Festival, which is a combination of music, art and literature literature.

Not only that, he also introduced food and wine events into the mix. ‘The idea is that people come and try different things and gradually become more and more involved. It might take a couple of days or three years but we’re encouraging a new audience. The Tuscan Sun Festival has been so successful that we’ve extended the idea to include Napa Valley in the States that will unite the world’s best and most adventurous music making with the visual, literary and culinary arts.’

Singapore is interested in hosting a similar event and in China IMG Artists started a huge music education festival called the Canton Summer Academy with Charles Dutoit as music director. More than 800 students from all over Asia participate in concerts and masterclasses during a week and a half of activities.

None of this is to suggest that IMG Artists is no longer engaged in the day-to-day business of negotiating and scheduling for a large roster of artists. Wissman, however, is convinced that without generating new interest, there will be nothing to book his artists for. ‘The notion of arts management as a booking service is gone. The landscape has changed dramatically in terms of funding and in terms of what people actually want. We have to keep the business alive and at the moment I don’t see other agencies doing this. It might mean that we don’t get rich but we have to generate successful platforms for our art. If our festivals are of a high enough quality and create the right atmosphere then they will be such platforms.

‘As long as we don’t actually lose money, its worth it to me.’

Reprinted with permission from International Arts Manager magazine.

www.IMGArtists.com >>

[barrettwissman]

Barrett Wissman: Renaissance Man

PARVATHI NAYAR meets Barrett Wissman: chairman of arts management company IMG Artists, philanthropist, pianist and bon vivant ‘have always been interested in doing many different things at the same time.’ An unusual admission to make in these specialist times, when the age of the generalist, polymath or Renaissance man seems long gone. But Barrett Wissman – chairman of IMG Artists, also financier, philanthropist, classical pianist and bon vivant – is an unusual combination. You could call him a creative businessman, or a man interested in the business of creativity.

Today, with an annual turnover exceeding US$100 million, ‘we are the largest arts management company globally,’ says Mr Wissman. IMG Artists represents some 500 top artists – Hilary Hahn, James Galway, Lang Lang, Murray Perahia, the Oslo Philharmonic with Andre Previn, and Pilobolus among others. Mr Wissman’s personal contacts have expanded the areas of business, as in extending their representation of violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman to Europe.

IMG Artists is acknowledged as an initiator of arts projects, making television documentaries such as the Art of Conducting, and presenting soloists or groups like the world famous Spanish Riding School of Vienna. Before Mr Wissman invested in IMG Artists in 2003 – apparently a white knight operation, with the company going through a bad patch – it was owned wholly by IMG, the international sports and lifestyle management

company. Mr Wissman’s takeover shook up the arts world and especially classical music management. But it was welcomed by insiders who recognised in the Dallas-based businessman a passionate advocate for the arts.

‘It was fascinating to me, to combine my interests in music, the arts in general and business – this gave me a platform to actually make a difference,’ says Mr Wissman over a morning coffee. Why not just start up an artist management company on his own? ‘This is a business that is so reputation-based, it is virtually impossible to create overnight.’ A time-tested brand name is the way out of arts management’s Catch 22: you can’t build a base of A-list clients who trust you to manage their careers/lives, if you haven’t already built up a reputation with A-list clients.

Now, says Mr Wissman, ‘our artists play in top venues round the world from Carnegie Hall to the Esplanade, whose programmers know that we can achieve very interesting things’.

He admits it will, take several years to establish the IMG presence in Asia, ‘but it’s working.’ He cites examples like setting up the new Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in Kuala Lumpur; and being hired by the Chinese government to set up a musical festival in Guangzhou, called the Canton International Festival, that expects over 1,000 talented students this summer for the inaugural event.

Mr Wissman also believes in scouting for new talent. He picked up early on the current classical music fave, piano prodigy Lang Lang, who will perform at the Singapore Arts Festival this year. His approach is enlightened: ‘When you take on artists as young as Lang Lang, it is important to develop and guide them, so they don’t play too much or too little, and in the right venues. We always listen to what the artists want to do, the kind of music they want to play and where, even if this doesn’t have a huge economic return. To be a great artist you also have to learn about life, have other influences come into your life. We need to give (Lang Lang) time to become a person, not just book him to play 150 times a year.’

The arts management business has a multiple revenue structure, from a simple percentage of the fee when an artist is booked, to managing an entire tour, and beyond. Currently, Asia represents some 10-15 per cent of the business but ‘it is going to be the fastest growing, because you have countries like Singapore paying attention to the arts, as well as ‘developed’ countries, artistically speaking, like Japan.’

The company has offices in Kuala Lumpur, but Mr Wissman sees real potential in the Singaporean initiative to push the arts envelope. Having travelled widely and participated in the arts debate round the world, there is weight to his observation that Singapore is doing all the right things for classical music, from hardware – the Esplanade – to investing in niche areas like the Yong Siew Toh Conservatory of Music.

He comments: ‘I first came to Singapore many years ago; over the years I have seen few places that have tried so hard in such a concerted way to build an arts environment. You often hear today that the arts are ‘dying’ but I disagree. I feel it’s the traditional arts cities like New York that are facing problems in terms of keeping it fresh and relevant. Developing centres for the arts – whether Dallas, Lithuania, Shanghai or Singapore – is where the new energy is. I’ve seen a lot of new building going on, cultural centres come up, in all these places and I’m quite hopeful.

‘The arts are extremely relevant – in making us stop to think of what we are as human beings. It is part of our identity, part of overall nation building,’ he says; and adds, bringing the discussion back to dollars and cents, ‘it also helps the tourist business. Singapore is a good place to do business. It has access to both India and China, yet because there is a strong mix of cultures here, isn’t identified too strongly with one or the other.’ With classical music appearing as a recurring leitmotiv in our conversation, it’s no surprise to hear: ‘I started out as a pianist.’ In fact, he started very young, performing on the piano with well-recognised orchestras from age 11. ‘Then my father died and I got involved in his business activities.’

He went into a successful business career, among other things making money backing Internet startups in the ’90s. Along the way he graduated cum laude from Yale University in economics and political science. ‘I got an advanced degree in music while I was an entrepreneur from the Southern Methodist University and the Accademia Chigiana in Italy, and continued to play at venues including St Johns Smith Square.’ He still plays from time to time, sometimes with his wife Nina Kotova, a professional cellist, who ‘swept him away’ when he saw her playing at a London concert. But as Mr Wissman admits, he is a perfectionist and if he does play, it must be well, a philosophy that he carries over into the business arena.

Part of his personal philanthropy has centred around the Cremona Society, an international organisation he created with an unusual mission: to collect and loan priceless instruments to deserving soloists. For this purpose the Society has bought more than 10 violins and cellos – each ranging in value from US$100,000 to several million dollars.

He still has diverse business interests, is a principal in several financial management and investment advisory companies, and is on the boards of several for-profit and non-profit enterprises. His asset management business, Arbitex, is largely handled now by efficient staff; he just overseas operations, but says: ‘We have products doing well.’

While he respects the goodwill that the name IMG Artists carries, he isn’t precious about it. ‘Historically, our company did not deal with the corporate sector. Again historically speaking, this is because funding of the arts in Europe comes from the state, and in the US from corporate philanthropy. But as the economic landscape changes, the arts must survive on an economic model in the future – and in order to do that it must involve the corporates. The corporate world does see increasing value in the arts. Corporate social responsibility – also known as philanthropy – is just one aspect. I’m talking more in terms of marketability and branding.’

He cites the example of Singapore Press Holdings presenting Mamma Mia! the musical, and the visibility and stature that such an association brings. Also, ’till now, we have dealt with government agencies and venues, now we are looking ot all sides of the equation and advising corporates directly.’

For example, IMG has advised UBS in putting together the UBS Verbier Festival Orchestra, which came to Singapore a few months ago. ‘It is an orchestra made up of young, talented musicians; the ages range from 15 to 29. These are not ordinary music students, but extremely talented young professionals who need this environment from which to get real experiences.’

The C wordIntegration is central to Mr Wissman’s vision of where he would like to take the arts management business. ‘Movie or sports stars are represented in all parts of their life. But in the arts, the players are presented only as performers. Our job should be to present to the world all aspects of the performer. Gone are the days when we can just be agents.’

On the one hand this might smack of commercialism but on the other, the arts, just like the movies or sports need personalities. Audiences are built around people who capture the imagination – whether mass or niche – and have a mystique or curiosity factor around them, he says.

Mr Wissman emphasises it is not a matter of overexposure but managing exposure. ‘It was considered bad taste in the past in the arts, but look at a partnership like Rolex and Yo Yo Ma. It is about integrating art into everyday life. Our job is to bring to our clients that kind of cognition.’

He sees a lot of dissonance between presenters, managers and recording companies, functions he would like to integrate. ‘We produce DVDs and audios for our clients as promotional, archival and documentary material. But we are also thinking seriously about creating our own label’ to make the management of the artists more cohesive structurally.

Moving to more personal tastes, ‘I am a very aesthetically oriented person, an amateur student of architecture and interior design.’ He narrates how he was so taken up with paua shells in New Zealand, he went to incredible lengths to find a company that would make paua shell tiles for his home. ‘I love materials and colours – both opulent and minimalist. In one of my homes I have mixed together minimalist and Oriental design, with many Indian artefacts and an Indian garden.’

So where is he based? That’s a very good question, he responds, ‘I am based in St Croix, and have homes in Montana, Italy and Texas.’ He enjoys travelling, speaks German, Italian and Spanish well, French to an acceptable level, and is currently learning Russian; is a bit of a foodie, and enthuses about Singapore’s ‘wonderfully complex’ food combinations; and appreciates painting. He acquires art, not as a collector with an eye to investment but as a way of expressing himself: ‘I like buying things that I enjoy, I don’t buy things that are popular nor the things that you are ‘supposed’ to buy.’

Revealingly, when we talk of what has inspired him, he doesn’t pick out names in business, it’s all from the world of music – 20th Century Russian music, culturally-specific sounds like Moroccan or Indian music, composers like Bach. It’s an easy transition to the music he likes to play – Bach, Prokofiev, Brahms – and the music he likes to listen to – Shostakovich and Rachmaninoff. He says simply: ‘I love music intensely, it is one of the things that keeps me fresh – and the artists we represent see that. Many (managers) become hardened and cold in the business.’

While Mr Wissman has translated his desire to do many things simultaneously into practical reality, he also enjoys the dividends of his primary investment and hard work: to keep music an active part of his life.