(…) The National Philharmonic performed Mahler's Fourth Symphony, conducted by a routine Austrian conductor Leopold Hager, whom we can fairly describe as second rate. It happens that an orchestra does not or can only partially realise its conductor's conception; on this occasion however, the reverse was the case: the musicians own initiatives demanded shaping, which requires a central guiding force which was absent. The performance of the strings was breathtaking, as were those of the soloists and the instrumental sections. Particularly worthy of praise was the precise groomed playing of the double basses which set the foundation for the whole orchestra. In earlier decades we became accustomed to the unacceptable, to the approximate production of notes which made the entire production hazy … Well, having heard all this, I can safely say that  however many blows below the belt are dished out to General Music Director, Zoltán Kocsis, the technical renewal of the ensemble entrusted to him is progressing as if in seven league boots! But it simply impossible for an orchestra to fractionally retard or accelerate, or adjust power if left to its own devices (…)

János Breuer
(Népszabadság, 22nd May 2002)