18 July 1966: Szell to Bobo - "The Tuba chair in the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra will be open ... I would like to inquire whether you would be interested..."Roger says: "George Szell was a frequent conductor of the Concertgebouworkest when I was playing there in 62-64. He liked me and I liked him. He knew conducting was on my mind and he was the only conductor I encountered that encouraged me to go for it. When I left Amsterdam and moved to LA he found me and urged me to move to Cleveland."
Following is their correspondence...
18 July 1966: Szell to Bobo - "The Tuba chair in the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra will be open ... I would like to inquire whether you would be interested..."
17 August 1966: Szell to Bobo - "Many thanks for your nice letter: I am pleased that you are showing some interest in my inquiry..."
28 August 1966: Szell to Bobo - "Thank you so much for your prompt answer..."
24 October 1966: Szell to Bobo - "While I am, of course, disappointed at your decision..."
Some forty years ago when Roger Bobo gave his debut recital in New York's Carnegie Hall, the New York Times carried the byline: Roger Bobo gives recital on tuba. Famous New York author John Updike (1932-), must have read the Times that day, as shortly after he published the following poem.
Recital
Eskimos in Manitoba,
Barracuda off Aruba,
Cock an ear when Roger Bobo
Starts to solo on the tuba.
Men of every station -- Pooh-Bah,
Nabob, bozo, toff, and hobo --
Cry in unison, "Indubi-
Tably, there is simply nobo-
Dy who oompahs on the tubo,
Solo, quite like Roger Bubo!"
