One of the holiday’s most iconic movies, “Elf,” is coming back to the big screen to celebrate the 20th anniversary of its release in movie theaters. But this time it’s not coming to your local cinema.
The Bushell in Hartford, Conn., on Friday and Saturday – Dec. 22 and 23 – will host “Elf in Concert” in its William H. Mortensen Hall as part of a national tour organized by CineConcerts and Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment.
Showtimes are 7 p.m. on Friday, Dec. 22, and 1 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 23.
All tickets are sold through the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. They range in price from $54 to $125 on Dec. 22 and $20 to $78 on Dec. 23.
“Elf” is consistently ranked among the top holiday movies. John Debney, who has worked on some of the most successful films of all time including “The Passion of the Christ,” “Iron Man 2,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Hocus Pocus,” expressed his enthusiasm for “Elf” in an official press release:
“It’s hard to believe it’s already the 20th anniversary for the release of ‘Elf,’ a film that has secured its place in history as a modern holiday classic. Composing the score for this iconic film is one of my career highlights and both the music and movie bring an enduring delight to audiences. It is an extraordinary honor to work with Warner Bros. Discovery Global Themed Entertainment and CineConcerts to bring the Elf in Concert experience to concert halls around the globe.”
As part of “Elf in Concert,” local orchestras will perform Debney’s heartwarming score live to picture, projected onto a 40-foot movie screen. During its stop in Hartford, the Hartford Symphony Orchestra will perform the score live under the direction of John Jesensky.
Jesensky is an active film and classical composer/conductor in Los Angeles. Several of his scores have made appearances and won awards at events such as the
Cannes Film Festival, L.A. Film Festival, Austin Film Festival, Hollyshorts Film Festival,
D.C. Film Festival and Phoenix Film Festival. During his conducting tenure, he has directed some of the finest ensembles of North and South America, Europe, and Asia in performances of “Star Trek: The Ultimate Voyage,” “The Godfather: Live,” “It’s a Wonderful Life,” “The Harry Potter Film ConcertSeries,” along with countless other works.
Jesensky took time from his busy schedule preparing to lead the Hartford Symphony Orchestra to perform the score to answer a few questions for The Republican.
Q: Have you ever done something like this before?
A: Indeed. There are now plenty of “Films in Concert” out there, including “The Godfather,” “The Harry Potter Film Concert Series,” “Titanic,” “Aliens,” “E.T. The Extraterrestrial”, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s,” and countless others. I’m a bit biased, considering my background and profession, but I’m continually thrilled by the blossoming of these concerts, as it brings a whole new group of people in to see orchestral concerts who may have otherwise missed out. I know that I wouldn’t be where I am today without first attending a John Williams Boston Pops concert as a kid.
Q: How challenging is this for you and the orchestra, it is almost as if you are scoring the movie yourself as John Debney sitting in the screening room?
A: Luckily, John Debney has done the toughest part for us, which is the actual note-writing. But certainly, each performance is a little different, so we have opportunities to maybe have more tuba here or move a little bit quicker in the snowball fight scene. One of my favorite elements of performing these scores is also one of the most challenging – finding that middle ground of creating a uniquely live concert experience, while also making sure the important bits line up perfectly with the movie. When it works, it’s a great feeling for everyone involved.
Q: How long have you been preparing for the concert, and what does it take to make it all happen?
A: Almost unbelievably, the orchestra and I will only have three hours total from “good morning” to the end of our rehearsals to ensure the music and the film come together. Compare that to a concert featuring a Beethoven symphony where the orchestra has an entire week of rehearsals, and you can see how prepared we all have to be going in. Luckily, I’ve worked with the Hartford Symphony Orchestra many times, and I know that when we get together, they will all be stunningly proficient, brilliant musicians, who aren’t overwhelmed by the daunting task. The boring bit is the month or so prior to rehearsal where I am sitting alone in my studio with 47 cups of coffee, colored pencils, the paper score, and a pounding headache as I try to cram as much information about the music into my brain as I can. If, I, as the conductor, am not the most prepared person there, we are in trouble, which is a responsibility I take very seriously.
Q: Have you seen “Elf” and what did you think about the movie?
A: “Elf” came out when I was a freshman in college, and I have vivid memories of my roommates and I watching it multiple times in the theater. We were such huge SNL fans, and seeing Will Ferrell in his first big leading role was huge. Since then, the charm, good-natured message, and yuletide spirit of that movie has made it the “yearly Christmas Eve watch” for my family – replacing the juggernaut that is Rudolph. I truly think it belongs up there in the Christmas movie hall of fame.
Q: Are you a fan of Christmas movies?
A: Oh yeah. Some of them are a little goofy and rough around the edges, but that’s part of their charm, right? More to the point, they bring us back to those warm childhood memories surrounding the holidays. “Elf” is one of those rare ones that I watch and enjoy just as much as an adult as I did when I was younger, which seems to be the case for most orchestra members as well. We are all laughing along to the movie alongside the audience, and occasionally quoting lines just quietly enough that the microphones don’t pick us up during the shows.
