"As I came to New York, it was for me a new beginning. To discover what people are living here. What do they need, what do they expect, what would they like to be the image and the performance of the New York Philharmonic?"

Kurt Masur's quote speaks to the value of understanding individuals of New York and their needs when he took on the function of Music Director of the New York Philharmonic. He wished to learn what the people of New York wanted and anticipated from the Philharmonic, and what type of image they wanted it to have. He wished to produce a clean slate for the Philharmonic, one that was tailored to the people of New York and their requirements. He wanted to guarantee that the Philharmonic was a reflection of the people of New York and their desires. He wanted to produce a performance that was significant to individuals of New York and that they could be proud of. His quote speaks to the significance of comprehending the people of New York and their requirements in order to develop an effective efficiency.