Let’s Ditch That Token of Hierarchy

So Berlin’s most revered senior conductor has resigned from his job as music director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden (while, naturally, still maintaining his lifelong post as chief conductor of Staatskapelle Berlin). I fully understand the urge to praise his accomplishments, and I share most of the views on Barenboim’s impressive lifetime achievements. But can we please take this opportunity to stop using the outdated term maestro? This designation clings to toxic traditional hierarchies, corroborates disparity and abuse of power, and engenders artistic and administrative subordination. I’d really appreciate if we could, in music journalism as well as in colloquial discourse, move a step forward in this respect.