Danny Elfman’s Music From the Films of Tim Burton

Image: www.adelaidefestival.com.au

The collaboration between composer Danny Elfman and filmmaker Tim Burton, one of the best-known and longest in the world of cinema, has generated 16 memorable films over 25 years. Danny Elfman’s Music From the Films of Tim Burton provides an enjoyable opportunity to admire the music that has proven to be integral to the collaboration’s legacy.

The performance features music from offbeat comedies like Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure, Beetlejuice and Mars Attacks to big screen adventures like Batman, Batman Returns, Planet of The Apes and Sleepy Hollow. Music from the macabre, yet enchanting, animated worlds of Corpse Bride, Frankenweenie and Nightmare Before Christmas features alongside children’s classics like Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and Alice in Wonderland as well as films as diverse Big Fish, Dark Shadows and the cult-classic Edward Scissorhands. To provide context and jog memories, matching scenes from the films, and relevant artworks by Tim Burton, are shown on a big screen behind the audience for a portion of the time each score plays. These videos contribute greatly to the experience.

While four-time Oscar nominee Elfman does not appear on stage until the last score of the scheduled concert is performed, the wait is worthwhile. Elfman, a former front man for an 80’s rock band, relishes the opportunity to sing several songs from Nightmare, reprising his role as Jack Skellington from the film.

Sandy Cameron’s energetic violin solo performance during Edward Scissorhands was a highlight. Singer song-writer Bertie Blackman ably performed ‘Sally’s Song’ from Nightmare Before Christmas but the audience was delighted by the presence and performance of nine-year-old local treble Charlie Wells who took centre stage with aplomb during Alice in Wonderland.

The macabre vivacity of Elfman’s compositions and the excellent performance by choir and orchestra capably allow the audience to transcend the cavernous and necessarily banal ‘convention hall’ that is the Entertainment Centre and enter the quirky and dark world of Burton’s films. It is worth noting that the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra once again demonstrated the ability to perform new work with precision and skill.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Adelaide Entertainment Centre
14 March 2015

2015 Adelaide Festival of Arts
www.adelaidefestival.com.au