Thomas Wilkins never dreamed that his final season as Music Director of the Omaha Symphony would be haunted by an invisible killer. But after months of quarantine, the players came back, and so did the socially distanced audience. Multiple cameras and live streaming open the concert doors to the world. The audience hears the world premiere of Michael Daugherty’s “Lift Up Thine Ears.” Branford Marsalis plays the John Williams concerto from “Catch Me If You Can.” And finally, Edward Elgar’s “Enigma Variations.” Before the music begins, Thomas turns to the audience and holds up his baton: “This thing makes no sound. I made it myself. It weighs exactly what I need it to weigh. My heart’s desire has always been to turn around to these wonderful human beings behind me and invite them to make sound together.” And then he does just that.

View the full film here: Beyond the Baton.