In 1784 he was one of the principal basses at the Handel commemoration in Westminster Abbey.

In 1951, he joined the D'Oyly Carte organisation and soon began to play roles, becoming the company's principal bass until 1969.

He was assistant principal bass under Klemperer and Fritz Reiner until 1938.

For the 2011-2012 season, Cobb will be acting principal double bass of the New York Philharmonic.

He was appointed principal bass several years later after the departure of Laurence Glazener in 2004.

Drucker was offered the position of principal double bass with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra at the age of 20.

"You'll never have unanimity among 106 people," said Harold Robinson, the principal bass, in an interview before last week's concert.

He has been associated to the Atlantic Classical Orchestra as principal bass.

A tall man commanding a strong stage presence, he joined the Bolshoi Theatre in 1930, remaining there as a principal bass until his retirement in 1954.

He was La Scala's principal bass for almost 15 years.