In the symphonic world, the conductor is the undisputed master of alchemy who can turn a cacophony of sound into a transcendental symphony. But what happens when the maestro’s magic wand turns into a weapon of down-right abuse? Let’s explore the tempestuous terrain of conductor tantrums—where the line between artistic passion and outright abuse is as thin as a violin string.
Imagine being a conductor. You've got the weight of the performance on your shoulders, the expectation to deliver nothing less than a transcendent experience. It’s enough to make anyone sweat through their tails.
But while the pressure to perform can bring out the best in some, it brings out the worst in others. For some conductors, the stress cooker turns them into ticking time bombs, and when they go off, it’s not pretty. Think less Leonard Bernstein and more Mount Vesuvius—minus the actual lava, but just as destructive.
Let’s start with the verbal assaults. Picture this: A conductor, known for his towering ego, berates the second violinist for missing a cue. “Are you even listening?” he barks, his voice cutting through the air like a dissonant chord. “"You’re a disgrace to your instrument and dragging the entire ensemble down. I expect perfection, not mediocrity! If you don't improve, I'll replace you!" The violinist, sitting there mortified and humiliated, while the rest of the orchestra sits in silence pretending to be interested in their sheet music or a spec of dust on their stand.
Or how about the maestro who channels his inner drill sergeant? “I don’t care if your lip starts bleeding, you’ll play that solo again until you get it right!” he snarls at a trumpet player. The poor musician, already on the verge of collapse after the 7th time of playing this extremely difficult passage, pushes through, fearing the conductor’s wrath more than their own physical pain.
Then there’s the emotional manipulation—an art form some conductors have mastered as well as conducting Brahms. One particularly infamous conductor was known for pitting musicians against each other, whispering to the first oboist that the clarinetist thinks she’s off her game, just to see the tension rise. He’d watch with a smirk as the orchestra simmered in a stew of anxiety and rivalry, believing that a little conflict would sharpen their performances. Spoiler alert: it mostly sharpened their desire to see him retire early.
And of course, there are the physical displays of anger. In one memorable rehearsal, a conductor, furious with what he considered a lackluster performance, grabbed a music stand and hurled it across the stage. It didn’t hit anyone—this time—but the message was clear: the next person to miss a note might not be so lucky. The orchestra’s playing improved, but only because no one wanted to become the next unintended percussion instrument.
While these stories might elicit gasps or even nervous laughter, the reality is that abuse in the rehearsal room can have lasting impacts. Musicians can suffer from anxiety, burnout, and in extreme cases, trauma. The orchestral can start to feel less like a place of artistic creation and more like a minefield where the slightest misstep could lead to an explosion.
Fortunately, the era of the untouchable, tantrum-throwing maestro is on the wane. More and more, orchestras and their institutions are recognizing that brilliance in conducting does not excuse abusive behavior. Musicians’ unions are stepping in, enforcing stricter codes of conduct, and providing safe avenues for reporting misconduct. The days of “grin and bear it” are giving way to a culture of accountability.
In the end, the best conductors know that the true power of their baton lies not in fear but in the ability to unite an ensemble under a shared vision of the music.
So, the next time you see a conductor waving their arms wildly, just remember: they’re guiding a symphony, not conducting a demolition derby. And if they forget that, there’s always the option of playing a little louder to drown out the tantrum. After all, nothing says “we’re all in this together” like an orchestra standing up to its maestro, one note at a time.
Now let's get down to even more serious business. Here are some articles you can read on how truly out-of-hand conductors can be, what their abuse of power can lead to, and why this needs to change. These articles provide an in-depth look into the controversies surrounding prominent music conductors and their alleged misconduct. Some sources may require subscriptions or access through academic or public libraries. I've also provided a list of notable journalists who cover misconduct, among other things in the classical music world.
If you have an article you'd like to see added to the list for reference, don't hesitate to reach out to harpsichord.hotsauce@gmail.com
Articles on Misconduct and Scandals Involving Music Conductors
James Levine (Metropolitan Opera)
Pogrebin, R., & Cooper, M. (2017, December 2). Met Opera Suspends James Levine After New Sexual Abuse Accusations. The New York Times.
Pogrebin, R., & Cooper, M. (2018, March 12). James Levine, Fired by Met Opera, Plans to Fight Back in Court. The New York Times.
Charles Dutoit (Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal)
Brown, J. (2017, December 21). Charles Dutoit Accused of Sexual Misconduct by Multiple Women. NPR.
Cooper, M., & Schweber, N. (2018, January 23). Conductor Charles Dutoit, Accused of Sexual Assault, Steps Down Early. The New York Times.
Daniele Gatti (Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra)
Marshall, A. (2018, August 2). Daniele Gatti, Conductor, Fired Over Sexual Misconduct Allegations. The New York Times.
Adams, R. (2018, August 2). Top Conductor Daniele Gatti Fired After Sexual Misconduct Allegations. The Guardian.
Plácido Domingo (LA Opera)
Cooper, M., & Pogrebin, R. (2019, August 13). Plácido Domingo Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women. The New York Times.
Wakin, D. J., & Cooper, M. (2020, March 16). Plácido Domingo Leaves American Guild of Musical Artists Amid Harassment Investigation. The New York Times.
Gustavo Dudamel (Los Angeles Philharmonic)
Ross, A. (2018, August 14). The Gustavo Dudamel Affair: How Venezuela's Political Crisis Has Divided Classical Music's Golden Boy From His Benefactors. The New Yorker.
Esa-Pekka Salonen (San Francisco Symphony)
Cooper, M. (2019, January 2). Esa-Pekka Salonen to Become Music Director of San Francisco Symphony. The New York Times.
David Robertson (Sydney Symphony Orchestra)
Williamson, L. (2018, August 23). Sydney Symphony Orchestra Chief Conductor David Robertson Accused of Bullying. ABC News.
John Eliot Gardiner (Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras)
Miller, M. (2021, August 2). John Eliot Gardiner Accused of 'Reign of Fear' at Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras. The Times.
Daniele Rustioni (Opéra National de Lyon)
Davidson, J. (2021, September 10). Opéra National de Lyon Music Director Daniele Rustioni Accused of Bullying Musicians. Classical Music.
Cristian Măcelaru (WDR Symphony Orchestra)
Johnson, K. (2019, November 19). Cristian Măcelaru Accused of Misconduct, WDR Symphony Orchestra Investigates. Deutsche Welle.
Additional Resources
"Classical Music’s #MeToo Movement" by Alex Ross. The New Yorker, 2018
"The Long Shadow of James Levine" by Zachary Woolfe. The New York Times, 2018
Here’s an extensive list of writers and journalists who have covered misconduct, abuse, and scandals in the classical music industry. These individuals have written for various respected publications and have extensively reported on the issues of abuse, harassment, and toxic environments within the world of classical music.
Prominent Writers on Misconduct and Abuse in Classical Music
Michael Cooper
Affiliation: The New York Times
Notable Works:
James Levine Fired by Met Opera Over Sexual Abuse Allegations
Plácido Domingo Accused of Sexual Harassment by Multiple Women
Conductor Charles Dutoit, Accused of Sexual Assault, Steps Down Early
Alex Ross
Affiliation: The New Yorker
Notable Works:
Classical Music’s #MeToo Movement
The Gustavo Dudamel Affair: How Venezuela's Political Crisis Has Divided Classical Music's Golden Boy From His Benefactors
Zachary Woolfe
Affiliation: The New York Times
Notable Works:
The Long Shadow of James Levine
What to Do About a Problem Like Levine?
Review: In the Wake of the Met Opera’s James Levine Scandal
Jenna Simeonov
Affiliation: Schmopera
Notable Works:
The Problem with James Levine’s Misconduct
Is the Opera World Prepared to Handle Sexual Harassment?
The Complicity of Classical Music
Anne Midgette
Affiliation: The Washington Post
Notable Works:
The Met Suspends James Levine After Abuse Accusations. Now What?
Sexual Harassment in Classical Music: A Longstanding and Still Persistent Problem
#MeToo in the Classical Music World: A Reckoning Is Coming
Joshua Kosman
Affiliation: San Francisco Chronicle
Notable Works:
Sexual Harassment in the Classical Music World: The Orchestras Respond
James Levine’s Downfall and the #MeToo Movement in Classical Music
Abuse in Classical Music: A Toxic Culture Exposed
Rachel Cooper
Affiliation: BBC Music Magazine
Notable Works:
Exploring Misconduct Allegations in the Classical Music World
How the #MeToo Movement Is Changing Classical Music
The Future of Classical Music Post-Misconduct Scandals
Charlotte Higgins
Affiliation: The Guardian
Notable Works:
Sexual Harassment in Classical Music: An Open Secret
How Power and Abuse Have Defined the Classical Music Industry
Why the #MeToo Movement Matters in Classical Music
Elizabeth Nonemaker
Affiliation: The Baltimore Sun
Notable Works:
The Silence Breaking in Classical Music: Misconduct and Its Impact
Addressing Sexual Misconduct in Orchestras
The Cultural Shift in Classical Music Post-#MeToo
David Patrick Stearns
Affiliation: Philadelphia Inquirer
Notable Works:
Sexual Harassment Allegations Shake the Classical Music World
How Classical Music Institutions Are Handling Misconduct Accusations
Cultural Change and Accountability in Classical Music
Mark Swed
Affiliation: Los Angeles Times
Notable Works:
How the Classical Music World Is Confronting Sexual Harassment
The Met Opera and the Legacy of James Levine
What the Gustavo Dudamel Controversy Tells Us About Classical Music's Challenges
Leah Broad
Affiliation: The Conversation, Various Academic Publications
Notable Works:
Gender, Power, and Misconduct in the Classical Music Industry
The Hidden Scandals of Classical Music’s Greats
Examining the Dark Side of Classical Music History
Shirley Apthorp
Affiliation: Financial Times
Notable Works:
Why Classical Music Needs to Address Its Abuse Problem
Dismantling the Hierarchies That Enable Abuse in Classical Music
The #MeToo Movement’s Impact on European Classical Music
Daniel Wakin
Affiliation: The New York Times
Notable Works:
The Fall of a Maestro: James Levine and the #MeToo Movement
Classical Music and the Reckoning with Misconduct
Revisiting Scandals in Classical Music History
Additional Notable Writers:
Katherine Needleman (Queen of Filth Digest)
Anthony Tommasini (The New York Times)
Tim Ashley (The Guardian)
Ivan Hewett (The Telegraph)
Charlotte Smith (Gramophone)
Heidi Waleson (The Wall Street Journal)
Lawrence A. Johnson (Chicago Classical Review)
Catherine Baker (The Conversation)
Philip Kennicott (The Washington Post)
These writers have made significant contributions to the ongoing discussion about misconduct and abuse in the classical music industry, helping to shed light on issues that have long been underreported or ignored.
(c) Harpischords & Hot Sauce, 2024
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