And to understand this, I think this is a most important point where I would like always to be understood what we do with the New York Philharmonic. That the meaning of the music is number one.

In 2001 Kurt Masur became an Honorary Member of the Royal Academy of Music. The critical consensus is that Masur improved the playing of the orchestra compared to his more pliable and forbearing predecessor. His performances draw a wide range of reviews.