“Welcome to Jurassic Park.”
A line that almost everyone would recognise. A line from one of my favourite films of all time. Released in 1993, Jurassic Park is also the first film I ever recall seeing as a child. I was eight years old and vividly remember the iconic T-Rex and Jeep chase scene.
Now, as a fully grown ‘child’, I have seen this classic film more times than I can count. From anniversary re-releases in cinemas to an IMAX recut and even a Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performance back in 2017. I have even visited Kualoa Ranch in Hawaii to visit the stunning locations where this film was made. During this trip, I also dressed as a T-Rex, and it was one of the best experiences of my life. So, when the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra announced a return of this iconic film and incredible John Williams score, there was no hesitation. I was going!
Directed by Stephen Spielberg and based on a novel of the same name by Michael Crichton, Jurassic Park is set on Isla Nublar, off the coast of Costa Rica. John Hammond (Richard Attenborough) has created a new theme park where the star attractions are real dinosaurs. But with investors growing nervous on the safety of the park, they enlist the services of three individuals to assess the park’s viability, consisting of chaos theorist and mathematician Ian Malcolm (Jeff Goldblum), palaeontologist Alan Grant (Sam Neill) and palaeobotanist Ellie Sattler (Laura Dern).
Along with Hammond’s grandchildren Lex (Ariana Richards) and Tim (Joseph Mazzello), they all embark on the ride to explore Jurassic Park. Although, when computer technician Dennis Nedry (Wayne Knight) seeks to steal some dino-embryos, he sets a loose a computer virus that systematically shuts down the park’s security defences. Hammond and chief engineer Ray Arnold (Samuel L. Jackson) fight to bring the park back online, the dinosaurs break free, and chaos ensues…
Jurassic Park is a film that was ahead of its time with a mixture of animatronics and ground-breaking 3D modelling, where the dinosaurs appeared as real as the human actors alongside them. Even now in 2026, the film still holds up as a technological marvel. But what really makes this film a timeless classic is its score by the legendary John Williams.
With Nicholas Buc at the helm as conductor, Buc welcomed Arts Centre Melbourne’s packed Hamer Hall to Jurassic Park. Introducing the evening with the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, he spoke of John Williams’ success as a composer. At the incredible age of 94, he became the oldest person to receive an Oscar nomination at the age of 91. Williams has scored over 100 films and has been awarded 27 Grammy’s, 5 Oscars with a whopping 54 nominations and countless other accolades.
Prior to Jurassic Park, John Williams and Steven Spielberg had worked together on 12 films, with four of them winning Academy Awards for Best Original Score. Although Jurassic Park did not win any awards (shocking, I know), the main theme is as recognisable as Star Wars and Indiana Jones. To experience the Jurassic Park score, performed live by the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra is always a treat.
The crowd was mixed with adult fans donning their favourite Jurassic Park merchandise to younger attendees seeing the film for the very first time. The MSO concert experience always brings together a community of fans that share a love for cinema and film scores. There is always a buzz of excitement around the venue, and this event was no different.
Social Exposure are also back with another themed photobooth to make some memories to take home from the concert. Three scenes available from the iconic Jurassic Park gates to the appearance of the T-Rex. They are positioned on the lower floor opposite the stalls bar and is always a must do at any MSO film concert experience.
You can’t deny that Jurassic Park is special to so many. I pretty much know this film off by heart, from the dialogue to the sequencing of the action, it is engrained in my memory. This gave me the opportunity to focus on the amazing MSO more than the film. From watching as the horn section played the soaring first notes of the main theme, to the gorgeous piano as the lullaby version plays when Alan Grant and the children fall asleep in the tree. Each moment of this score is as special as the next and the full Hamer Hall did not hesitate to show their appreciation with frequent thunderous applause.
Cinema would not be anywhere as incredible as it is without the scores behind them, and the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra continue to highlight the importance of music in film, showcasing and reminding everyone just how phenomenal these scores are. These film concert performances always reignite my love for my favourite films, and I will always cherish these experiences. I cannot wait for the next film concert!
The Melbourne Symphony Orchestra performed Jurassic Park In Concert on Thursday the 23rd of April and has two more performances at Arts Centre Melbourne’s Hamer Hall on Friday 24th and Sunday the 26th of April 2026.
For more information, ticketing, and future film concerts from the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, visit:
https://www.mso.com.au/performance/2026-jurassic-park-in-concert
https://www.mso.com.au/whats-on?genre=MSO%20at%20the%20Movies
https://www.instagram.com/melbournesymphonyorchestra
Hawaii visit dinosaur suit context below:
