In his critique, Igor Stravinsky classifies that conductors and their role in traditional concert music is not as great as it seems. Stravinsky develops his classification by comparing conductors to actors and politicians, and exemplifying how the conductors contribute to the orchestra's music. Stravinsky’s purpose is to educate his audience on how conductors are not as important as they seem, and also on how they do not contribute to the music. To support this, Stravinsky takes on a hypercritical tone with his audience of fellow critics, press agents, and reviewers.
In the opening of his critique, Stravinsky compares the conductors to politics. He immediately proclaims, “conducting, like politics… is more for… the exploitation of personalities…