Fear and Loathing on the Podium

Conductors used to be larger-than-life dictators who terrorized orchestras. But as recent conductor appointments by the New York Philharmonic and Los Angeles Philharmonic demonstrate, maestros are getting younger and more accessible. Today, we examine why the days of the conductor-as-tyrant are over. Also: Jazz saxophonist Jacques Schwarz-Bart was raised by a black Guadeloupean mother and a French Jewish father. He mixes African funk, jazz and Guadeloupe's gwoka rhythms on his new album, Soné Ka La.