The Plaza Theater trembled with the sound of dinosaurs, or rather, the El Paso Symphony Orchestra (EPSO), as the first notes of John Williams’ score thundered to life beneath the opening credits.
On Nov. 8, the EPSO performed Jurassic Park in Concert, syncing every cue of the 1993 blockbuster film to live music. Led by associate conductor James Welsch, the performance was part of the orchestra’s growing lineup of films performed in concert, which included Coco, Harry Potter and Star Wars.
For Welsch, who said he wore out cassette tapes of the soundtrack as a kid, the concert was both a nostalgic thrill and a technical challenge, one that pushed the musicians to match the movie’s intensity frame by frame.
Before the movie began, Welsch stepped onto the stage to the crowd’s cheers, playfully asking the audience who was ready to see a monster movie. Quoting Samuel L. Jackson, he raised his baton with a grin and said, “Hold onto your butts.”
The lighthearted start gave way to one of the orchestra’s most technically demanding performances. Welsch said the musicians spent weeks practicing individually before coming together for only two full rehearsals before showtime.
“The biggest difference with these concerts is that things have to happen at a certain time,” Welsch said. “In a normal concert there are breaks between big pieces or movements, and we can go at our own pace. The most difficult part about playing live to a film is that things have to happen when they have to happen.”
To keep the score in sync with the movie, the orchestra used click tracks and visual markers projected near the conductor’s stand, tools that guided them through more than two hours of complex, nonstop music.
Welsch praised William’s active dynamic writing, particularly during the raptor chase scene near the end.
“It’s about eight minutes worth of fast, hard, difficult music that the orchestra has to align, and there’s no stopping. That’s probably the most difficult part, because it’s the longest cue in the entire movie.” Welsch said.
Welsch added that, despite the challenges, the score’s emotional moments still move him.
“I still tear up in two spots, when they come across the Triceratops, and the first moment they see the dinosaurs. The beauty of that tune and the fact that it’s so perfectly timed really speaks to the genius of a film composer.” Welsch said.
From the moment the first scene began, the crowd was hooked. Laughter echoed as Dr. Grant described a particularly vivid velociraptor attack on one young skeptic at his dig site, and silence fell as the T-rex’s roar shook the theater during its rampage.
Applause broke out during intermission, and when fans stepped into the lobby, many were even dressed up for the occasion.
Ailev Hernandez and her friend Deon Jauregui were no strangers to the symphony orchestra’s movie nights, having attended EPSO’s live film concerts before. Hernandez said part of the fun was watching the orchestra and seeing other fans dressed up as different characters.
“We’ve been to Star Wars night here, it was just as crazy cool as this one,” Jauregui said. “I come more for the EPSO, because I think they’re awesome, and that’s my favorite part.”
Among the enthusiastic crowd was Joey, who was dressed as a Jurassic Park ranger, complete with two dinosaur puppets named Goober and Dalores, which were a hit with concertgoers snapping photos.
As the credits rolled and the final notes swelled through the theater, the audience rose in a standing ovation, a fitting end to a night that fused nostalgia, skill and cinematic magic.
“Some people come for the movie alone, some come for the music. But I think there’s a wonderful moment in situations like this, where somebody experiences something familiar in a new way. And that’s the magic of live music, and especially live music to film.” Welsch said.
Outside the Plaza, the buzz of conversation lingered as fans stopped to take photos with Joey and two friends dressed in inflatable T-rex costumes beneath the marquee. For one night, the El Paso Symphony Orchestra brought Jurassic Park to life.
Jewel Ocampo is a Staff Reporter and may be reached at [email protected].
