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