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New Live to Projection Concert: Batman by Danny Elfman


Jay

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WARNER BROS. PICTURES PRESENTS: BATMAN (1989) LIVE IN CONCERT - FIRST DATES HAVE BEEN ANNOUNCED

The first Batman 'Live' concerts by the 21st Century Symphony Orchestra conducted by Ludwig Wicki have been announced with the World Première in Luzern, Switzerland on 20 May.

Use this link for all Batman concerts on Movies in Concert:

http://www.moviesinconcert.nl/index.php?page=concertlist&suche=Batman&sucheprog=0

https://www.facebook.com/Movies.in.Concert/photos/a.309972292454170.72688.148721061912628/846245695493491/?type=3&theater

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You do realize that it will be presented in complete and chronological form? It does not make for a nice listening experience.

These film concerts rarely do, as the audience's focus is mostly on the film anyway (which is why I've always seen these things as nothing more than "fancy moviegoing"). But it would be a cool way to hear the thought processes and choices behind Elfman's score, like being on a scoring stage or listening to an isolated score track live.

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  • 2 months later...
  • 3 years later...

Well, 2019 is the film's 30th anniversary and concert venue's are already showing some love:

 

October 5 and 6, 2019 by 

The Oregon Symphony Orchestra

 

July 2 and 3, 2020 by

The Nashville Symphony Orchestra

 

This year is The Matrix's 20th Anniversary. I hope orchestras will show some love for that in this year's concert season.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Now, in Cleveland, OH by the Cleveland Orchestra, August 23rd and 25th.

 

http://www.clevelandorchestra.com/19-blossom--summer/19-summersseverance/sas-5-batman/?performanceNumber=17983

 

That's three concerts in the USA this year.

 

Almost a year ago, San Francisco was the only place in the USA to go to catch it and I had to fly across the coast to attend.

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12 minutes ago, Stefancos said:

Most overrated superhero score ever.

 

You know what happened to this guy, Stefan? Well...he made mistakes. Then he ended up with his lights out! Now you wanna get nuts?! C'mon! Let's get nuts.

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  • 3 years later...

I’ve looked at the ads of this latest booking of the Batman (’89) L2P in Rochester, NY…

Temp 1.png

 

https://www.esm.rochester.edu/news/2022/12/eastman-school-of-music-presents-batman-in-concert-starring-michael-keaton-jack-nicholson-kim-basinger-featuring-danny-elfmans-iconic-1989-score/

 

…and it's saying that it is a debut. I’m thinking, ‘how is this a debut? This concert has been around for years." As it turns out, TCG Entertainment, a concert production company, is debuting their own production of ‘Batman (’89) – In Concert’ as part of their 'DC In Concert' series.  

 

I'm wondering whether there'll be any changes to it.

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The O2 live Nightmare Before Xmas was like a rock star concert where Elfman was treated like royalty. It was amazing. Full orchestra and choir but then Elfman performing as Jack Skellington. He really performed and got everyone into it. Total rock star charisma. 200k were clapping to What's this. But they also performed all the 'incidental score' - Mark McKenzie orchestrated - which is awesome.

 

Best concert ever - saw him in Glasgow with Mauceri for a Tim Burton night. This one is totally off the hinges - Elfman's vocal performance and the BBC Concert Orchestra hitting every note - totally the best performance ever and if any of you get the opportunity to see Elfman live - you go for it, he is a truly godlike when you get him to do a show.....which is why they cost so much.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
On 29/01/2023 at 6:45 AM, SyncMan said:

As it turns out, TCG Entertainment, a concert production company, is debuting their own production of ‘Batman (’89) – In Concert’ as part of their 'DC In Concert' series.  

 

I'm wondering whether there'll be any changes to it.

This performance from Cleveland, OH on August 2019 had a live-choir.

Batman L2P.png

See video of that said rehearsal here:

https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/08/23/cleveland-orchestra-perform-tim-burtons-batman-severance-hall/

 

However, this one from Rochester, NY last Friday didn’t.

Batman - Roch.png

 

Here's a brief video of that concert.

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1131125737566404/?s=1x1

 

Perhaps in TCG’s production of the ‘Batman (’89)’ L2P concerts, they have created 2 sets—one with live-choir and the other with a pre-recorded choir, like in the Harry Potter L2P concerts.

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  • 6 months later...

The new "DC In Concert" version has no choir

 

Music Information

Music By: Danny Elfman

Film Duration: 126:00:00

Music Duration: 87:22:00

Original Instrumentation:

    1 Alto Sax

    1 Tenor Sax

    1 Guitar

    1 Musical Saw

    Flute 1

    Flute 2 - Alto Flute

    Flute 3 - Piccolo, Alto Flute

    2 Oboe

    1 English Horn (Doubles with Alto Sax, Tenor Sax)

    Clarinet 1

    Clarinet 2

    Clarinet 3 - Bass Clarinet

    Bassoon 1

    Bassoon 2

    Bassoon 3 - Contrabassoon

    6 Horn

    4 Trumpet

    3 Trombone

    1 Bass Trombone

    2 Tuba

    5 Percussion

    1 Timpani

    2 Harp

    1 Piano/Celesta

    1 Synthesizer/Pipe Organ

    6 Violin 1

    6 Violin 2

     6 Viola

    4 Violoncello

    4 Contrabass 1 doubles as E.Bs and Solo Jazz Bs.)

Total Players: 68

Modified Instrumentation:

    Flute 1

    Flute 2 - Alto Flute

    Flute 3 - Piccolo, Alto Flute

    2 Oboe

    1 English Horn (Doubles with Alto Sax, Tenor Sax)

    Clarinet 1

    Clarinet 2

    Clarinet 3 - Bass Clarinet

    Bassoon 1

    Bassoon 2

    Bassoon 3 - Contrabassoon

    5 Horn

    3 Trumpet

    2 Trombone

    1 Bass Trombone

    1 Tuba

    4 Percussion

    1 Timpani

    1 Harp

    1 Piano/Celesta

    1 Synthesizer/Pipe Organ

    4 Violin 1

    4 Violin 2

    4 Viola

    4 Violoncello

    2 Contrabass (1 doubles as E.Bs and Solo Jazz Bs.)

Total Players: 50

 

 

https://www.dcfilmsinconcert.com/batman-1989

 

B98tourgraphic.png?format=2500w

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How come this DC in concert site has LTP performances of Black Adam and Elfman's JL, but not for the best DC score of the past 15 years?

 

 

I think both Wonder Woman movies could be great in Live-to-Picture format. RGW's Aquaman would be interesting as well, if they find out a way to perform live the electronic and rock parts.

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Maybe, but WW84 was much more orchestral than any of his previous superhero scores, so it would be easier to perform live than, say, Man of Steel.

 

Besides, Balfe's Black Adam and Wallfisch's The Flash also feature electronic elements and they are being promoted on the website.

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Booked tickets for the performance in London next May. The Barbican should be a much better setting than that Eventim Apollo thingy. Not sure how it compares to the Luzern show from some years ago but this score was on my "live to picture" bucket list.

 

Karol

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On 08/09/2023 at 9:57 PM, Edmilson said:

Maybe, but WW84 was much more orchestral than any of his previous superhero scores, so it would be easier to perform live than, say, Man of Steel.

 

Besides, Balfe's Black Adam and Wallfisch's The Flash also feature electronic elements and they are being promoted on the website.

 

They can be performed. But they'd sound terrible.

Zimmer's scores are produced deliberately so that they sound huge with the most minimal number of orchestral sections.

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  • 1 month later...

Yup booked my tickets last month. Can't wait! :)

 

Hopefully, someone will do Returns. That would be a dream cone true for me. Buy it must feature live choir. Not holding my breath though.

 

Karol

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On 08/09/2023 at 12:34 PM, Edmilson said:

How come this DC in concert site has LTP performances of Black Adam and Elfman's JL, but not for the best DC score of the past 15 years?

 

 

I think both Wonder Woman movies could be great in Live-to-Picture format. RGW's Aquaman would be interesting as well, if they find out a way to perform live the electronic and rock parts.

 

Because everyone hates this film from what I heard. Also, there is a falling out with Patty Jenkins recently so maybe that is why. 

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  • 2 months later...

For the performances of this LTP concert prior to February 2023, the audience didn't hear Prince's 'Scandulous' coming out of the concert-hall's house speakers over the remaining portion of the end-credits .  Instead, additional music was performed, live, over that footage.

 

Now, the new owner of this LTP concert-rental, TCG, has already removed the live-choir.  I am wondering if their version that was being used in the venues since last February will keep the additional music for the end-credits or will they do one the following:

  • Remove the concert's end-credits version and replace it with the film-version's end credits then do a needle drop of 'Scandulous'.
  • Not play 'Scandulous' and just end the concert with the performance of the film-version's end credits-cue and just let the audience leave as the remaining credit-roll finish.

Here is the lastest schedule for TCP's 'Batman' LTP concert. The yellow highlights are the new dates added.

B98tourgraphic1080x1080Newdates.png

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I caught this last night in DC:  here is my quick writeup:

 

Batman (1989) Live in Concert

The Warner Theater in DC had a one night only showing of Tim Burton's Batman with Danny Elfman's score performed live to picture.  It was fun time, and the crowd was very excited to see the film.  I walked in behind someone in full Batman costume, which had to have been uncomfortable sitting the tiny seats they have there.  Warner theater was built in 1924, and is stunningly gorgeous inside, but man the seats are tiny.   The film still holds up- and looked great on a big screen.  

Thoughts on the concert:

I've been to many live to picture concerts (A Warner bros cartoon one, all the Star Wars films, Jaws, Casino Royale, and a few others- all played by the National Symphony Orchestra).  This was the first one that was played by an un-named group, the conductor not introduced, and no mention of the composer (other than the on- screen credit).  I guess with Danny Elfman's recent troubles he might be "cancelled" or whatever.
I know the Batman score well- it's been a favorite since 1989, so I knew I would notice any differences.
The orchestra played fairly well.  The brass seemed to struggle at times and didn't seem loud enough- the woodwinds were very loud in comparison.  The percussion was almost inaudible- I could see the guy playing the timpani but it didn't register.  I don't know of i the acoustics in the theater are meant for an orchestra.  On the plus, everyone hit all their marks, which is extra important with the amount of action and "mickey-mousing" in the score.

The audience did not applaud Elfman's name in the credits, but went wild at Prince's...which was extra funny later, during the art gallery scene, where Joker comes in with a goon playing Prince on a boombox....except maybe WB didn't pay for rights to that song, because the scene was completely silent.  No music- just the grunts and SFX of the actors.  Some in the audience laughed, others were upset.  
During the parade scene later, they did use Prince's song.  I think a lot of people expected there to be more than 2 min of Prince music.

The end credits was the real end credits, but not Prince's song.  They did some more action music that I couldn't place (a new arrangement?) and then the Into the Batcave track again.  

 

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13 hours ago, BobaMike said:

The end credits was the real end credits, but not Prince's song.  They did some more action music that I couldn't place (a new arrangement?) and then the Into the Batcave track again.  

I found a 3-minute video of that portion.

https://www.facebook.com/johsua.dunmore/videos/357339277239054/

I do hear vocal-chanting, but where is it coming from?  from the film-audio?

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14 hours ago, BobaMike said:

Thoughts on the concert:

I've been to many live to picture concerts (A Warner bros cartoon one, all the Star Wars films, Jaws, Casino Royale, and a few others- all played by the National Symphony Orchestra).  This was the first one that was played by an un-named group, the conductor not introduced, and no mention of the composer (other than the on- screen credit).  I guess with Danny Elfman's recent troubles he might be "cancelled" or whatever.

 

Nah, they rarely introduce anyone in these concerts. In fact I can only think of a handful examples. So this mostly standard.

 

Karol

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16 hours ago, BobaMike said:

during the art gallery scene, where Joker comes in with a goon playing Prince on a boombox....except maybe WB didn't pay for rights to that song, because the scene was completely silent.  No music- just the grunts and SFX of the actors.  Some in the audience laughed, others were upset.  

 

LOL that is so weird...

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5 hours ago, Jay said:

 

LOL that is so weird...

That is odd. I saw this last weekend in LA and there was music for that scene. I grabbed some video of the opening and end credits as well as of part of "Descent Into Mystery" that I will try and post later. Overall the concert was fun and presentation was good, though I did think the orchestra was a bit too reverberant--which could just have been the venue (it was at the Dolby Theatre instead of the "typical" venues for live to projection concerts like the Hollywood Bowl or Disney Hall.) Was also interesting to hear what sounded like Omnisphere Symphony of Voices used in place of a choir. The audience definitely seemed to enjoy it (and cheered for Elfman's credit!)

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On 21/01/2024 at 7:11 AM, crocodile said:

Nah, they rarely introduce anyone in these concerts. In fact I can only think of a handful examples. So this mostly standard.

 

Karol

Most of the time I've gotten a program that has a composer bio and a conductor bio.   The Kennedy Center ones and Wolf Trap ones all do, at least.

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