Royal Albert Hall, October 7, 2023

A concert of Danny Elfman’s scores for his Tim Burton movies, spanning 1985 to 2022.

Ten years to the day from its world premiere performance at the same venue, Danny Elfman returned to the Royal Albert Hall on 7 October 2013 for two performances of his Tim Burton concert, and as a lead-in to Halloween season it was an absolute treat (no tricks).

As with the 2013 premiere, the concert was again performed live by the BBC Concert Orchestra and conducted by John Mauceri. This time, the choral work was performed by the Crouch End Festival Chorus rather than the Maida Vale Singers. Danny Elfman performed Jack and Oogie Boogie from A Nightmare Before Christmas, while Britain’s Got Talent finalist, 13-year-old treble Malakai Bayoh sang on Sleepy Hollow and Alice in Wonderland.

After a temporary glitch with his earpiece, Mauceri started the concert with a montage of Burton moments on a large screen, accompanied to the opening title sounds of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. The screen would remain throughout the show, playing clips of movies or Burton’s original sketches, and never proved to be a distraction.

Fun suites of Pee-Wee’s Big Adventure and Beetlejuice followed, then an exciting visit to Sleepy Hollow and the theremin-led Mars Attacks. After a gorgeous, lengthy section on Big Fish (such a beautiful score) the crowd came to life with Batman and Batman Returns, showcasing the main themes from both movies and cranking up the volume to maximum.

After the interval we were treated to the opening titles of television show Wednesday, which was at the expense of Planet of the Apes, which was removed from this place in the programme. Corpse Bride followed, with a jaunty rendition of the Wedding Song, then the prologue of Dark Shadows and Sparky’s resurrection from Frankenweenie.

The suite from Edward Scissorhands was sublime – was there a dry eye left in the house by the end of Ice Dance? – including a sparkling performance by virtuoso violinist Sandy Cameron (she also performs Elfman’s violin concerto Eleven Eleven and has performed at his A Nightmare Before Christmas Live concerts.) Edwardo the Barber has never come to life in such an animated way.

And then the main event. Elfman was received with rapturous applause as he performed Jack’s Lament, What’s This? and Jack’s Obsession from A Nightmare Before Christmas – tearing up the stage with his long strides and throws of his arms. He appeared to be loving every moment, as indeed were we. An encore performance of Alice in Wonderland’s main theme was followed by Elfman again, singing Oogie Boogie’s Song. The standing ovation was inevitable, and then the icing on the cake – Tim Burton came on stage to take a bow.

Was there a slight disappointment that the concert hadn’t been updated to include Big Eyes and Dumbo, or even the Burton-produced Alice Through the Looking Glass, and was the omission of Planet of the Apes really necessary? Minor quibbles really.

Verdict: A wonderful afternoon of Elfman/Burton movie soundtrack magic, with so many highlights. 9/10

Nick Joy