Was Fletcher purposely sabotaging his own performance at the end

Fletcher had nothing to lose since he was already fired. He was determined to take Andrew with him even if it meant sabotaging his own performance and destroying them both.

"Obviously we know why he does it, but out of context it's a little odd... say he got his revenge on Andrew and humiliated him, the what? The night was still ruined and the already disgraced music professor now looks like a complete joke who can't even handle a JV band. Were his designs for revenge really that much that he'd sabotage everyone including himself? I guess the answer is yes, he's a psychopath, but still..."

Initially yes. He's happy to screw up the whole night, and even look like a fool himself just to get back at Andrew. But when Andrew comes back out, he initially conducts the band himself. The others, knowing the material by heart, join in. Fletcher is lost, entirely po'd, not supporting any of this. Then what happens is he gradually becomes so impressed by ANdrew's playing - he jumps on board. He's back with the program, conducting, doing his thing - giving it 100%.


"I'm also unclear how he goes from being fired from Schaeffer, to conducting in Carnegie Hall. This seems like an undeserved upgrade, or failing upwards, rather than a fall from grace. "

Well, one of those "it's only a movie" type of thing where your forced to suspend disbelief.