Symphony orchestras exist because back in the day, there was no other way to produce such rich and complex sound. Nowadays, with recording and electronic tools, not so much. What would we miss out if orchestras disappeared?
Many musical instruments have been designed over centuries to be incredibly expressive. (But not so much the harpsichord.) An orchestra effectively spreads the mental task of deciding expression over many people each with specific expert knowledge of his of her instrument, rather than, say, a single electronic musician. A famous example is the clarinet glissando opening Rhapsody In Blue: the idea had not even occurred to Gershwin.
We also miss out on the fun, the bonding experience, of participating in a musical ensemble. That experience often inspires additional creativity.
But I think the future is bright: as great as classical music has been, they were composing for very constrained ensembles compared to what electronic music can theoretically do. (Compare Rachmaninoff with black MIDI.)
Similar arguments and counterarguments could be made about the obsolescence of theater.
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