THE SF SYMPHONY BRINGS TIM BURTON’S, “THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS” TO LIFE JUST IN TIME FOR THE HOLIDAYS…
Written by Sharina Solares
Ah the Christmas season is upon us and what better way to get into the holiday spirit then watching Tim Burton’s devilishly fun film, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” and better yet with SF’s best orchestra handling the musical score. That was the scene on Friday November 30 at Davie’s Symphony Hall. It was a chilly night in San Francisco, perfect ambience for a Burton film. Attendees dressed in warm attire, with occasional super fans boasting their best Jack Skellington look or mock up Sally dresses.
Movie nights at the Symphony always conjure up a magical vibe and big crowds as all seats were filled and the excitement in the air was contagious. Conductor Ted Sperling took the stage and off we went on a magical, nightmarish journey through the eccentric mind of one of cinema’s best and most creative filmmakers, Tim Burton. Its been 25 years since the beloved cult film was released, but it could have came out yesterday as it seemed fresh, new and with the Symphony playing super composer Danny Elfman’s original score perfectly, it was just a visual and audio sensory overload. One of the only films to beautifully bridge the gap between Halloween and Christmas, a true masterpiece enjoyed by fans young and old, even toddlers were amongst the crowd, as families shared in the musical excitement from beginning to end. From featured songs like, “This Is Halloween”, “What’s This” and “The Oogie Boogie’s Song”, fans sang along with the Symphony, as they watched the classic tale of jack Skellington on the big screen. The story of a leader of Halloween town, who grew bored of the same festivities and decided to take over Christmas with disastrous results.
This wasn’t the first time the SF Symphony featured the film, but based on the reaction from fans, an annual “The Nightmare Before Christmas” movie and symphony outing, would be a welcome tradition to the SF holiday season. All throughout the hall, smiles were evident and the jittery on your seat feeling could be felt from many, as we were all part of the same vibe, the same spirit as we celebrated a true American cinematic masterpiece and of course with the best orchestra in the Country to guide us along.
For more info on the SF Symphony go to: www.sfsymphony.org