A SYMPHONIC CELEBRATION OF ELFMAN AND BURTON

A visually and musically immersive concert
that brings beloved scores thrillingly to life

Music always enhances the moviegoing experience. It sets the tone, creates mood, and heightens the action and drama of a story. Long after a film has left theaters, its music often lingers in popular memory.

Filmmaker Tim Burton has been creating feature films since the 1980s, crafting a distinctive style of family-friendly fantasy and adventure with a dark, gothic edge. His protagonists are often outsiders or misfits, set against surreal worlds of exaggerated scale, shadowy palettes, and bursts of vivid color. Central to that signature style are the evocative scores by composer Danny Elfman, whose musical voice has become inseparable from Burton’s cinematic universe.

Elfman began his career in the 1980s as the lead vocalist and songwriter for the new wave band Oingo Boingo before transitioning into film scoring, where he has since composed more than 100 scores for film and television. His collaborations with Burton have produced some of the most recognizable soundtracks in modern cinema.

Experiencing these scores performed live by the San Francisco Symphony and Sarah Hicks, conductor, is something special. With the films projected on a large screen at Davies Symphony Hall and the orchestra performing Elfman’s music in real time, the evening becomes a richly immersive event perfect for any age.

The program spans a wide range of Burton’s films, beginning with their first collaboration, Pee-wee’s Big Adventure, and continuing through Beetlejuice and Batman, the latter being one of Burton’s most commercially successful films. Also featured are selections from Sleepy Hollow, starring Johnny Depp—who also appeared in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory—and Dark Shadows. A particular highlight is Edward Scissorhands, a perennial favorite whose score remains among Elfman’s most beloved.

In addition to the orchestra, the SF Symphony Chorus (Jenny Wong, director) positioned behind the musicians provides haunting, atmospheric vocals that deepen the emotional resonance of the music. As the evening draws to a close, the audience is treated to a special appearance by Danny Elfman humself who greets the crowd and performs “What’s This?” from The Nightmare Before Christmas, signing the lyrics with theatrical flair.

The result is a memorable evening that celebrates the enduring partnership between Burton and Elfman—an ideal way to usher in the holiday season for longtime fans and newcomers alike.

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photos by Chuck Louden

Danny Elfman’s Music from the Films of Tim Burton
Davies Symphony Hall, 201 Van Ness Ave. in San Francisco
reviewed on November 13
ends on November 14, 2026
for tickets, call 415.864.6000 or visit SF Symphony

Featuring:
Sarah Hicks, conductor
Danny Elfman, vocalist
Sandy Cameron, violin
Brenn Farrell, boy soprano
San Francisco Symphony Chorus (Jenny Wong, director)
San Francisco Symphony

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