The music is already written down the orchestra play what’s written, so what difference does the conductor make apart from the tempo?
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You’ve got lots of great replies, but one reason not mentioned: while the orchestra has full sheet music in front of them, a typical symphony performance involves 90 minute or more of material, and they don’t get a lot of time to rehearse. All but the largest symphonies *rent* the sheet music they perform, which is only in their possession for 4 or 5 days.
When it comes to popular pieces in the classical repertoire, veteran musicians likely have their part memorized. But for younger musicians encountering pieces they have never played, they really have very little time to familiarize themselves with it. In such a case having a conductor who is intimately familiar with the music is essential. I’ve seen skilled conductors lead long and complicated pieces from memory – they don’t even have a score in front of them!
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