The era of the dictatorial conductor has been over for decades, and musicians now play a large role in setting the direction of many orchestras in the U.S. and Europe. “With power, of course, comes its misuse. No one wants to go back to the old orchestral days of part-time employment, miserable pay and little or no benefits; the days of sexism, racism and exploitation; days of imperious conductors doling out abuse. Still, a couple of uppity American orchestras have gotten out of hand.”