You've Come A Long Way Bassi!

There was a TV commercial some years ago whose tag was "You've Come A Long Way Baby." It congratulated women because they finally have a cigarette designed just for them (I guess we've all come along way since then).
It came to mind when I noticed a world premiere of a Violin and Double Bass Concerto. It was composed and conducted by Andre Previn and performed by Anne-Sophie Mutter, a young double bass virtuoso named Roman Patkolo, and the Boston Symphony Orchestra.
Of course bass concerti are sometimes performed with major orchestras but they are usually done on special occasions and to showcase the orchestra's principal player. (not to diminish the BSO's superb Edwin Barker - there are none better in the world and his peers can be counted on one hand).
I find this programming remarkable because it featured two international superstars performing a new work (three if you count the BSO) for no other reasons than the sake of the musical art and to highlight a young virtuoso.
Not long ago professional bass players had one option in this courntry - join the bass section. If you had mastered the solo literature and wanted to perform full-time, forget it. There was room for one bass soloist and Gary Karr filled that position. Got a passion for chamber music (which meant of course a steady diet of "Fish" but there are worse things)? Not a chance. A guy named Julius Levine had a monopoly on that.
Then along came a charming, quirky hillbilly named Edgar Meyer with some monstrous chops that soon got him recording with country superstars like Mark O'Connor and Bela Fleck. And eventually...Yo-Yo Ma. Yes the greatest living 'cellist and a Mr. Rogers regular condescends to record with - a bass player.
And now Mr. Patkolo.
These are good times indeed for the low end.
And of course for Mr. Previn who has now enshrined himself in the musical pantheon alongside Messrs Dragonetti, Capuzzi, Dittersdorf, Bottesini, et al.