To the friends of Chris Newman at FoR3

[Quarky]

Very sorry to hear that.

Corresponded with him under his former name modestchristoff, and I was aware he had a heart problem. An extremely knowledgeable and humorous poster. Can't afford to lose people like that.

[Flay]

...his former name modestchristoff

I did not know they were the same person. "Modest" is an appropriate name for such a gentleman, who will be greatly missed.

May I add my condolences too.

Chris B.

[makropulos]

Dear Becca,
This is incredibly sad news and I send deepest condolences. I only knew Chris via the "virtual" world but I do wish I'd known him properly - a kindly, immensely knowledgeble and infinitely enthusiastic presence on this board which will be much the poorer without him.

[ferneyhoughgeliebte]

I am so sorry to hear this news. Chris was so kind and welcoming to me first on the old BBC 'boards (in his "Formerly Modest" days) and again later onto these. He was always so good-natured, generous and cheerful in his posts, and so enthusiastic to hear Music he didn't know that others had recommended. I shall greatly miss his contributions.

My very best wishes and condolences to Becca and all Chris' family and friends.

[Lateralthinking1]

Becca

I am very, very, sorry to hear this news. I always enjoyed Chris's contributions.

Quite simply, he was one of the nicest people on this forum. While I never met him, he went out of his way privately to be encouraging and supportive to me at a difficult time. I will never forget that kindness and he really will be missed.

My very best wishes to you and your family.

Lateralthinking1

[Tony Halstead]

Dear Becca,
I am immensely saddened by this news.
Having had some private correspondence with Chris I was hoping to meet him some day on my travels.
What a generous, courteous, wise and enthusiastic gentleman he was.
I shall miss him greatly.

Tony

[doversoul1]

Dear Becca
I am very, very sorry to hear the news. Not so long ago, Chris sent me a private message telling me about The Coronation of Poppea. It showed everything that was Chris: knowledgeable and enthusiastic, kind and generous.

Hi doversoul,
Knowing you like early music I thought I'd let you know about this opera on the Arte Live Channel. This link should take you straight to it. It has several very good British singers and comes from Lille. The French and German channels that contribute the programmes on Arte Live seem to have more televised early music than we do. What's more it is free to watch.

Best wishes

Chris.

I shall miss him more than I can say in any words. My deepest sympathy to you and your family.
ds

[gurnemanz]

I very much appreciated his contributions - up to only a couple of weeks ago - and would also like to express sympathy (from the Northern reaches of Wiltshire).

[french frank]

A message from 'Formerly Patrick OD':

I was shocked to read the sad news of Chris Newman's death, the more poignant that it came from his daughter. I would associate myself by proxy with the messages already posted. I do remember Chris as one who was personally kind to me on a few occasions over quite a long period, and iirc we both shared an admiration for Schubert Lieder and in particular for The Organ Grinder by Harry Plunket Greene. A fitting enough last thought.

Patrick

[jayne lee wilson]

Oh Becca, I'm so, so sorry to hear this. I so enjoyed his contributions, and shared many a debate (and spicy disagreement!) with him enlivened by his warmth, wit, vast first-hand knowledge and humour. He will be greatly missed, I can only offer you a big virtual hug in your time of grief, but I'm glad he was so well cared for towards the end.

Goodbye, Chris, I'll not forget you.

[french frank]

Another email tribute to Chris:

I saw the message from Chris Newman's daughter - very sad news & very shocking ... he always seemed so there, both as Modest Christoff & as Chris. He was so clearly a lovely man, kind & knowledgeable & open in all sorts of ways (a few months ago he was generously appreciative of a YouTube link I put up for Ferneyhough's Sonatas & Interludes, which he'd not heard before).

My sympathies to his daughter.

John Skelton

[marthe]

Dear Becca,

I'm so very sorry to hear about your Dad. The loss of one's father (or mother) leaves such a gap in one's life. Though not quite as venerable a member of the boards as some others here, I did enjoy your father's wit, wisdom, and good manners. I loved looking at the paintings he posted on his troovi site as well. I'll be thinking of you and your family on the 30th and sure as there's a heaven, your father and DFD must be having a grand conversation by now.

marthe (Martha G.)

[cloughie]

Sorry to hear the news, his contributions were usually interesting and he was clearly a man who loved his music.

[Il Grande Inquisitor]

Becca, my sincere condolences. Chris was a wonderful, friendly member of this community, especially on the Opera threads, where we would often correspond, comparing views and reviews. He was always very kind about my attempts at reviewing. As a frequent visitor to WNO's visits to The Mayflower, I was sorry not to have met him - we were both at Katya Kabanova there in November.

I think Chris' choice of Mahler for his service is rather wonderful and Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau the perfect choice of singer. I do indeed hope their paths cross up there.

IGI/ Mark Pullinger

[EdgeleyRob]

My condolences to you and your family Becca.
I didn't know Chris personally ,only virtually I suppose.
I'll be thinking of you all on the 30th.

You take care.

Rob.