The Hungarian National Philharmonic in Leverkusen
Zoltán Kocsis is a pianist, conductor and composer. In the first of two concerts at the Bavarian Kulturabteilung, where he conducted the Hungarian National Philharmonic orchestra, he introduced himself to us as a master of transcription.
 (…) The backbone of the program began with Béla Bartók's Third Piano Concerto. The mood of this, the composer's final work, is suffused with peace and acquiescence. There is melodic romanticism in a first movement so rich in musical motifs, and also in the painful-intimate Adagio. We only encounter Bartók's irresistible rhythmicity in the final movement.
The solo part, which over 15 years ago, Kocsis himself performed in a benchmark recording, was this time undertaken by Dezső Ránki. (…)
Kocsis and the orchestra then gave an account of his orchestral transcription of “Ariettes oubliées”, settings of poems by Verlaine which Claude Debussy originally set for soprano and piano. Kocsis further intensifies the mood of the original work. He has orchestrated the dreaminess of the texts creating a rapture of colours and feelings. In the wake of these poetic tone pictures emerged Júlia Hajnóczy: she has both a young and mature voice – an ideal choice.
The superb orchestra allowed her fine voice to come into its own. The Hungarians bade farewell to the packed concert hall with a performances of Debussy's La Mer. These symphonic sketches also reflected the Philharmonic Orchestra's abilities, which was conducted with exceptional sensitivity by Kocsis.

Klaus Winterberg
(Leverkusener Stadtanzeiger, November 2nd 2001.)