A nostalgic trip in the DeLorean, brought to life by the ASO’s seamless soundtrack
Presented by: Adelaide Symphony Orchestra
Reviewed: 15 November 2025
One of the greatest trilogies of all time premiered in 1985, introducing Michael J. Fox as Marty McFly and Christopher Lloyd as Doc Brown. Director Robert Zemeckis brought Back to the Future to life with iconic phrases like “Great Scott!” and “1.21 gigawatts!” He made the DeLorean cool and had everyone asking, “where’s my hoverboard?” before the decade was out. For many, it’s a nostalgic trip down memory lane, but on the big screen at the Entertainment Centre, this film still holds up 40 years later.
Another unforgettable element of Back to the Future is its soundtrack. Huey Lewis’ “Power of Love” as Marty skateboards behind a pickup truck, or the imagined origin story of Chuck Berry’s “Johnny B. Goode,” are as memorable as the story itself. Yet it’s Alan Silvestri’s score that truly strikes a chord. His music is one-of-a-kind, perfectly capturing the essence of sci-fi and ’80s adventure.
For this performance, Silvestri has added new arrangements to enhance the score, including an extra 20 minutes of music drawn from the second and third installments (details die-hard fans will instantly recognise).
Conductor Nicholas Buc takes an understated approach, allowing the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra to shine. Their precision and lush sound bring extra depth to the already excellent score. At times, the performance is so seamless that while watching the film unfold on the big screen, you might forget the soundtrack is live… until you glance at the stage and see each section having its moment in Silvestri’s rich composition; from the eerie harp during time-bending revelations to the brass and frenetic strings driving the action sequences.
One missed opportunity is the absence of live renditions of pop hits like “Power of Love.” A band and vocalist joining the ASO could have reimagined these classics and showcased the music even further, though this was likely a licensing issue beyond the orchestra’s control. With subtitles provided (not that anyone needed them – we all know the lines) and an interval for the musicians to stretch, the live experience is what makes this concert special, and the music taking center stage is a welcome choice.
The diverse crowd (fans of all ages) were clearly ready to revisit this classic. For those who never saw the film in cinemas, sharing the experience with fellow fans, enhanced by a live orchestra, was a real treat.
Reviewed by: Hayley Horton
Photo credit: Supplied
Venue: Adelaide Entertainment Centre
Season: ended
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