Musicians frequently encounter both of these extreme views of music’s most mysterious profession. An orchestra’s music director hears auditions, plans the repertoire for future seasons, and generally serves as an ensemble’s recognizable face, its ambassador to the public. Kleiber asks every member of the orchestra to not play until the other musicians play. This article appears in the September 2026 print edition with the headline “Music’s Most Mysterious Profession.” The post Music’s Most Mysterious Profession appeared first on The Atlantic.