http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/7745605.stm

must be a terrible shock for his family and all those associated with him.

Sad news indeed. I have many of his Chandos recordings in my collection. He did so much for British repertoire.

Sounds great - I am sorry I missed that. No. 8 is my favourite...

I nearly ended up there by accident - I was at the QEH on the same evening (Mitsuko Uchida in the Quartet for the End of Time) and there was a bit of a muddle when booking tickets, when I almost bought tickets for the RFH on the same evening. I wouldn't have been upset had I not noticed.

But yes, sad news. A real champion of British music who conducted a stonking Pilgrim's Progress back in the summer.

RIP, Cherub.

As a member of the London Symphony Chorus, I've worked with Richard on numerous occasions over the years. Highlights include memorable recordings of Peter Grimes, Sea Symphony, Carmina Burana and also some excellent concerts such as the recent Vaughan Williams cycle to which dcmbarton refers. A great champion of British and choral music, he'll be sorely missed by us all.

My thoughts are with his mother, his wife Pamela Helen and his children.

RIP Richard

A sad loss indeed. He was a fab conductor to work for. Never heard any musician complain about him.

RIP...

Sad news.

I couldn't go to the Vaughan Williams symphonies and was looking forward to seeing him conduct Riders to the Sea at the ENO this Sunday

That's so sad. A great conductor.

RIP

I'm an ex LSC member and had many happy and incredibly rewarding times singing with Richard in the 80s and early 90s. He had a wonderful way of turning a weary group of individuals who had had a hard day at work into a focused and energised chorus. I still cannot hear some pieces of music without picturing his face when he was conducting them.

Very sad news indeed.

RIP

I met Richard Hickox on several occasions, he was a very gifted musician and a genuinely warm and friendly person.

A production without its conductor ...

http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol...icle5224427.ece

This is very sad news indeed. Richard Hickox did so much to claim Vaughan Williams rightful place as one of the finest composers of the 20th Century, and to die so young too.

His loss is a great loss to classical music, and in particular to 20th Century British Music, that under his Baton, and fellow Conductors like Andrew Davies and Vernon Handley really shone.

RIP.

A friend of mine was at a conference and spoke to him the night before he died - weird.
He was an amazing chap and essential to the British music scene we have today.