Red Rocks has hosted more than its fair share of iconic performances, but Danny Elfman’s return with the Colorado Symphony carved out a space of its own. Under a sky that felt painted for the occasion, Elfman brought his world of soundtracks, symphonies, and stories to life – a reminder that his music is a whole body experience truly meant to be enjoyed in a setting like this.
The night was built around the sprawling catalogue of scores Elfman has created for Tim Burton, a sprawling journey through scores that shaped decades including “Batman,” “Edward Scissorhands,” “Beetlejuice,” “The Nightmare Before Christmas,” “The Corpse Bride,” and many more. With the Colorado Symphony powering each piece and Burton’s artwork flickering across the giant screen, the show played less like a concert and more like a living retrospective. Violinist Sandy Cameron was electric as always, dancing her way through Elfman’s most intricate passages, while the chorus gave weight and texture that filled every inch of the amphitheater.
But what set this performance apart for me was the personal connection. I’ve been a fan of Danny Elfman for as long as I can remember — not just the soundtracks, but also Oingo Boingo and now his solo work. His music was the backdrop of my childhood, the thing that sparked my imagination and kept me company in countless quiet moments. Hearing those same themes performed live, in such a setting, felt less like attending a concert and more like stepping inside the soundtrack of my own life.
That feeling reached its peak during the encore. Elfman walked back on stage and launched into “Oogie Boogie’s Song” from “The Nightmare Before Christmas.” It wasn’t flashy or overproduced, it was just him, singing a character he helped create, and thousands of us singing right along. I knew every word, and belting them out with him under the night sky was therapeutic in a way that I’ll carry with me for a long time.
The entire evening was a masterful lesson in how music can be both grand and intimate. The Colorado Symphony delivered with precision and passion, the visuals gave everything context, and Elfman himself reminded us why his work has endured: it’s bold, a little odd, and impossible to forget.
For the casual listener, it was a chance to relive classic film moments. For longtime fans, it was something deeper, a celebration of the music that shaped us, performed by the man who created it.
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