Conductors and Orchestras - What Do They Do?

In an ideal world a conductor and orchestra are in this state of absolute coordination, where the music is speaking the way it needs to speak. But as a conductor one can view this very differently. A phrase, like a sentence, or a movement, like a chapter, or a work, like a book or a play, i always has an architecture. The speed of the musi makes a big difference. So if you're sensitive as a conductor, what you'll try and do is then slow the music a little to try and create the right conditions for them. Sometimes that's to do with the architecture of a movement. It doesn't mean you have to be rude to people, although