Powerhouse vocalist Jaclyn Victor’s dream of staging a solo concert accompanied by the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) will finally become a reality with a special performance at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas (DFP) on Oct 17.
Titled Jaclyn Victor – Gemilang Bersama MPO, the 90-minute concert will be led by experienced music conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose and feature around 20 songs.
Jaclyn, 48, said performing a solo concert at the prestigious venue will be one of the most meaningful milestones in her singing career.
"When I first entered the industry, hearing the name MPO made me feel intimidated and nervous, like I was about to walk into a luxury-brand store. To have my own solo concert with MPO is one of my biggest dreams.
"MPO is in a league of its own, so I am extremely grateful that this opportunity has finally come,” she told reporters after a press conference on the upcoming concert at DFP in Kuala Lumpur.
The concert places Jaclyn alongside prominent Malaysian singers who have previously performed with the MPO, including Tan Sri SM Salim, Datuk Seri Sheila Majid, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza Tarudin and Datuk M Nasir.
The concert will also see Jaclyn venturing into the classical Italian opera genre with O Mio Babbino Caro and Time To Say Goodbye.
"Abang (Ahmad) Muriz likes to challenge me to do something new. Although I am not a classical singer, I welcome this opportunity to push the boundaries of my vocal abilities,” said Jaclyn, who has previously performed as a guest vocalist with the MPO three times.
The Gemilang singer acknowledged that performing with a full orchestra presents technical challenges and requires intense focus as there is very little room for error.
"Even the emotional nuances and breathing patterns can be heard clearly by the audience, so I need to maintain a very high level of focus,” she said.
The concert will feature new symphonic compositions by a line-up of music arrangers, including Aubrey Suwito, Luqman Aziz, Gerard Salonga, Shahhakam Mokhtar, Teuku Umar Ilany, Leonard Yeap and Ahmad Muriz.
Popular songs sung by Jaclyn will be given a fresh treatment, including Gemilang, Ikut Rentakku, Di Bawah Pohon Asmara, Tiada Lagi Indah and Beribu Sesalan.
"I will not lower the original key, even though some of the songs are already 20 years old. If we become too comfortable, we will never challenge our own potential,” she said.
The concert will also feature a diverse selection of songs in different languages and genres, including Tunggu Sekejap, When I Fall In Love, Superwoman, Diamonds Are Forever, Chong Bai and Defying Gravity.
Meanwhile, Ahmad Muriz said he deliberately challenged Jaclyn to step out of her comfort zone to showcase a different side of her vocal abilities that audiences rarely get to see.
"When we talk about Jaclyn Victor, everyone already knows the strength and power of her voice. So, for this concert at DFP, I wanted to challenge her to step out of her comfort zone and do something unexpected.
"Although she was initially hesitant and worried, I am confident that with her vocal technique and control, Jaclyn will be able to pull it off very well and surprise the audience,” he said.
For the performance, Jaclyn will wear exclusive outfits designed by local fashion designer Rizman Ruzaini. – Bernama
