I don't know if you have ever heard of Leopold Stokowski and Pierre Boulez:
surely you did.  These are other great conductors (in my opinion) who do
not use a baton.  I think even Stravinsky if I am noty mistaken didn't use
a baton.  Surely he wasn't a conductor but when he did conduct he achieved
great results.  (If you'll listen to his recording of The rites of Spring
you'll understand what I mean) Nowadays it is not unusual to find
conductors without a baton.  Conductors of lesser importance but of world
fame such as Valery Gergiev do not use a stick.  What about that?

Chris Muscat
University of Malta