Would you say that Danny Elfman is a better or worse composer than Tchaikovsky?
The fact that you cite Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture as one of his ‘better works’ shows your level of ignorance. Even Tchaikovsky himself didn’t rate the 1812 Overture very highly. It is a ceremonial piece written to commemorate a particular occasion and is actually one of his weakest works. So, you have started off from a pretty bad place. Such ridiculous comparisons are odious and meaningless. I admire Danny Elfman as a composer of effective film and TV music. However, I very much doubt he could hold together a complex symphonic structure such as is to found in Tchaikovsky’s Manfred Symphony or his Symphony No 6 (two pieces with ARE among his best). I also doubt he could string-together a long melodic structure such those in the First Piano Concerto, the Romeo and Juliet fantasy overture or the Violin Concerto. I suggest you get to know Tchaikovsky’s music a lot better and then ask yourself the same question you have asked us.
