system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: What is a conductor in an orchestra actually doing? How much control does (s)he have?
gpt
Conductors have a much larger role to play in rehearsal than at a performance.  Conductors tell the musicians how to play in regard to style, speed, and volume.  The conductor's interpretation of the piece and how they choose to direct the musicans can drastically change how the piece is played.

However, once a group of musicians has played through a piece +150 times in the exact same style, the conductor could drop dead on stage and the musicians could finish the piece without batting an eye.