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CSO posted this stage shot in San Francisco. Is that York #1 on the right? - looks like a good amount of silver loss. I wonder if they will silver plate it again, refinish in lacquer or just let it go raw brass since the metal is so thin at this point. I assume that’s a BBb on the left. Hauling two 6/4 contrabass tubas on tour has got to be a pita. Wonder if Gene brought a bass tuba as well.

That is what Gene is currently referring to as York #2 on the right and his BMB Bb on the left. And he’s also got a cimbasso with him on the tour for Nabucco. All the toys…

tofu wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 2:32 am CSO posted this stage shot in San Francisco. Is that York #1 on the right? - looks like a good amount of silver loss. I wonder if they will silver plate it again, refinish in lacquer or just let it go raw brass since the metal is so thin at this point. I assume that’s a BBb on the left. Hauling two 6/4 contrabass tubas on tour has got to be a pita. Wonder if Gene brought a bass tuba as well.

They’ll never refinish that thing. I saw both in person a few times, and both are in not so great shape. They’ve had so much work done to them over the years it’s a wonder that he still plays one. I would more wonder how much longer those things can keep going. I think he has a Yamayork or something that he plays, maybe even more than either York.

Chris Olka wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:05 am That is what Gene is currently referring to as York #2 on the right and his BMB Bb on the left. And he’s also got a cimbasso with him on the tour for Nabucco. All the toys…

I caught them in Costa Mesa, Southern California last night. They sounded great.

Yes, he had them all on stage with him, switching between the two contrabasses in the same piece.

I was in the second to back row at the very top. There was definitely a difference in the sound of the two. Both were good sounds obviously but definitely different.

I was absolutely wiped out sleep wise and nearly didn’t go. I’m glad I made myself go. Definitely worth the 72 miles each way.

York-aholic wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 8:59 pm

Chris Olka wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:05 am That is what Gene is currently referring to as York #2 on the right and his BMB Bb on the left. And he’s also got a cimbasso with him on the tour for Nabucco. All the toys…

I caught them in Costa Mesa, Southern California last night. They sounded great.

Yes, he had them all on stage with him, switching between the two contrabasses in the same piece.

I was in the second to back row at the very top. There was definitely a difference in the sound of the two. Both were good sounds obviously but definitely different.

I was absolutely wiped out sleep wise and nearly didn’t go. I’m glad I made myself go. Definitely worth the 72 miles each way.


IMG_2845.jpeg

I hear Gene and the CSO a lot. He has such an ability to make those 6/4’s dance & do just about anything - he just sounds great all the time. I suspect he uses them for a wider variety of pieces than other Symphonic tuba players. There has been a lot of changes in the CSO brass make up in the last few years, but they still sound superb - but IMHO - it’s not quite at the level of the Herseth/Jacobs Solti era to my ear. But my tastes are probably stuck in the 70’s -80’s.

tofu wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 1:16 am stuck in the 70’s -80’s.

I think Gene's age is stuck somewhere between the 70s and 80s. Better seem him live in action while you can, retirement can't be too far away!

bort2.0 wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 2:00 am

tofu wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 1:16 am stuck in the 70’s -80’s.

I think Gene's age is stuck somewhere between the 70s and 80s. Better seem him live in action while you can, retirement can't be too far away!

He has looked older the last couple years (don’t we all). The CSO has had an amazing number of performers who played well into their 80’s. Jay Friedman just retired last year at 93 after 63 outstanding continuous years as principal trombone. The harpist retired earlier in the year after 60 years with the group. Hereseth, Jacobs and Dale Clevenger were all in their 80’s. Gene still sounds great and seems to be able handle the horns on stage or on tour with no problem. I’m sure that was a personal choice of his own to haul two 6/4 horns on tour vs a conductor requirement.

York-aholic wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 8:59 pm

I caught them in Costa Mesa, Southern California last night. They sounded great.

Yes, he had them all on stage with him, switching between the two contrabasses in the same piece.

I was in the second to back row at the very top. There was definitely a difference in the sound of the two. Both were good sounds obviously but definitely different.


IMG_2845.jpeg

How did the two big 6/4 contrabass tubas sound different out in the audience? How were the acoustics?

That's a beautiful hall I believe the Pacific Symphony plays there -- one of the orchestras the late Jim Self played in.

tofu wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 3:19 am

bort2.0 wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 2:00 am

tofu wrote: Mon Jan 26, 2026 1:16 am stuck in the 70’s -80’s.

I think Gene's age is stuck somewhere between the 70s and 80s. Better seem him live in action while you can, retirement can't be too far away!

He has looked older the last couple years (don’t we all). The CSO has had an amazing number of performers who played well into their 80’s. Jay Friedman just retired last year at 93 after 63 outstanding continuous years as principal trombone. The harpist retired earlier in the year after 60 years with the group. Hereseth, Jacobs and Dale Clevenger were all in their 80’s. Gene still sounds great and seems to be able handle the horns on stage or on tour with no problem. I’m sure that was a personal choice of his own to haul two 6/4 horns on tour vs a conductor requirement.

Motivation and inspiration for all of us (or, at least for me!)

York-aholic wrote: Sun Jan 25, 2026 8:59 pm

Chris Olka wrote: Wed Jan 21, 2026 10:05 am That is what Gene is currently referring to as York #2 on the right and his BMB Bb on the left. And he’s also got a cimbasso with him on the tour for Nabucco. All the toys…

I caught them in Costa Mesa, Southern California last night. They sounded great.

Yes, he had them all on stage with him, switching between the two contrabasses in the same piece.

I was in the second to back row at the very top. There was definitely a difference in the sound of the two. Both were good sounds obviously but definitely different.

I was absolutely wiped out sleep wise and nearly didn’t go. I’m glad I made myself go. Definitely worth the 72 miles each way.


IMG_2845.jpeg

I was at the same concert, definitely a 10/10 experience.
The program was a bit unusual:
Overture to The Gypsy Baron Gene stayed on stage for this, despite no tuba part, presumably because of stage access issues.
Mathis der Maler Gene played this entirely on the BMB. The tone quality and sheer amount of sound Gene produced on this horn were just phenomenal. When I heard him tootle a few excerpts on the BMB before the concert, my first thought was that the intonation was wonky. Maybe it was just cold. Didn’t really notice anything amiss during the performance.
<Intermission>
Fairy’s Kiss Divertimento He played everything except one lick on the York. The one lick on the BMB had intonation issues. Not glaring, of course, and I doubt anyone but a tuba player would notice, but definitely there. (Again, maybe a cold horn?)
Bolero Don’t have much to say about this (not my cup of tea), although Tim Higgins was awesome, as to be expected.
Encore: Nabucco Overture As alluded to earlier, played by Gene on the cimbasso. The opening chorale was just perfect. As was the rest.
The hall (Segerstrom Concerrt Hall) is excellent, and Gene more than filled it. The end of the first movement of the Hindemith nearly took my head
off! The overall virtuosity of the orchestra is just astonishing. And this was the last concert of the tour; I’m sure they’re looking forward to a few days off.