The National Symphony Orchestra plays the score to the blockbuster film, “Jurassic Park.” Photo courtesy if Wolf Trap.
On a hot day in July of 1993, my family walked into the movie theatre. This was a big deal. My dad thought movies were expensive so we didn’t go as a family very often. Little did I know that we were about to experience a movie that would become a modern classic: “Jurassic Park.” While several scenes scared the pants of my 12-year-old self, I also couldn’t help but be swept up by the scale and wonder of this film. I was further impressed, a few months later, when we played the main theme in my junior high marching band. I was a 7th grade French horn player and our instrument didn’t see the melody line very often. But playing the “Jurassic Park” theme, we were front and center. This set me on a life-time love of John Williams, the composer for this and countless other iconic film scores. I jumped at the opportunity to attend the National Symphony Orchestra (one of my favorite orchestras) playing live to the “Jurassic Park” film at the Wolf Trap’s Filene Center (one of my favorite venues).
…a fantastic movie accompanied by one of the most renowned orchestras in the country.
It seems crazy at this point that there might be people who aren’t at least tangentially familiar with the juggernaut film series. An eccentric billionaire finds a way to clone dinosaurs and creates a theme park. When an accident occurs, his investors insist that experts in their fields review and endorse the park before it can open. He invites several outsiders to experience the park, but due to the actions of a traitorous employee, the park security disintegrates and puts everyone in grave danger. This film kicked off a trilogy of films and, later, a second trilogy under the title “Jurassic World.”
The National Symphony Orchestra (NSO) has done many of these live, film performances. It is a fantastic way to introduce the magic of orchestral music to audiences that may not always think it’s for them. Steven Reineke, Principal Pops Conductor for the NSO, played the host and was charming as always. The movie kicked off and you quickly realized that this film has an incredible amount of music which plays a crucial role in setting the mood for the story. The mastery of subtleties, like dynamics and blending, are integral to the tense feeling that drives the latter half of the film. As many times I have seen the movie, it felt as if I was watching it for the first time. It was truly a marvel how much music the NSO played and how effectively they played it.
While the whole orchestra was fantastic as usual, special accolades must go to the brass and percussion sections. Personal experience aside, the French horns were marvelously featured in this performance, and the rest of the brass and percussion helped to hammer in the action-heavy moments of the film. The strings and woodwinds were also excellent in delivering the quieter moments. It also struck me how varied the music was when it was highlighted—from the quirky music played behind the video on the beginning of the tour at the park to the tense, bombastic tunes as the T-Rex chases several characters in a jeep. It was all expertly performed.
It would be remiss not to mention how much the venue enhanced this experience as well. While I always love the uniqueness of the outdoor amphitheater and its seemingly impossibly good acoustics, it was even better for a film that spends most of its time in a lush, green background. It was also so lovely to see whole families on the lawn section with picnic blankets and snacks—some parents perhaps introducing their children to a favorite film for the first time. It was the most packed I have ever seen the Filene Center and for good reason—a fantastic movie accompanied by one of the most renowned orchestras in the country.
Running Time: Approximately two and a half hours with one 15-minute intermission.
“‘Jurassic Park’ in Concert” was performed on July 22, 2023 at Wolf Trap’s Filene Center, 1551 Trap Road Vienna, VA 22182. For more information and tickets on upcoming events at Wolf Trap, go online. For more information and tickets on upcoming NSO events, go online.
