PERFORMING with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra (MPO) was more than just another career milestone for Jaclyn Victor.
It fulfilled a dream she had nurtured since the early days of her career, bringing her signature hits and musical influences together in a celebration of more than two decades of artistic growth.
Held at Dewan Filharmonik Petronas on Oct 17, 'Jaclyn Victor: Gemilang Bersama MPO' featured the singer performing alongside the orchestra under conductor Ahmad Muriz Che Rose.
About 900 people attended the concert, which celebrated Jaclyn's rise to fame and her willingness to challenge herself as a performer
"When I first entered the industry, just hearing the name MPO made me feel intimidated and nervous. It was like walking into a luxury-brand store," she said before the concert.
"Having my own solo concert with the MPO has always been one of my biggest dreams. The MPO is in a league of its own, and I am grateful that this opportunity has finally come."
The night held particular significance for Jaclyn, whose career took off after she won the inaugural season of 'Malaysian Idol' in 2004.
Her powerful rendition of 'Gemilang', composed by Aubrey Suwito with lyrics by Asmin Mudin, became synonymous with her rise to fame and remains one of her signature songs.
More than 20 years later, the song lent its name to her first solo concert with the MPO, giving the familiar anthem a new orchestral setting.
The evening opened with 'This Is Me', the song performed by Keala Settle in 'The Greatest Showman'.
Jaclyn then took the audience back to her Malaysian Idol days with 'Tunggu Sekejap', the Tan Sri P. Ramlee classic she performed during the competition.
"I still remember being challenged to perform this song during P. Ramlee week. It was a memorable moment in my early musical journey."
FAMILIAR SONGS, FRESH PERSPECTIVES
Rather than simply repeating familiar arrangements, the concert allowed Jaclyn to explore how her hits could be transformed by a full orchestra.
Her setlist featured classic tracks such as 'Ikut Rentakku', 'Di Bawah Pohon Asmara', 'Tiada Lagi Indah'and 'Beribu Sesalan', alongside international hits from different eras and genres.
One of her personal highlights was 'Superwoman', the Karyn White hit Jaclyn remembered singing as a teenager.
"I was 15 when this song became popular. It was one of my favourite songs, and I used to sing it all the time."
The show also paid tribute to iconic voices that shaped her style, including Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Celine Dion and Beyonce.
Showstoppers like 'Natural Woman', 'Hero', 'When You Believe', 'I Surrender' and 'Listen' allowed Jaclyn to revisit celebrated diva repertoire and showcase her vocal range.
Her performance of 'Cheek to Cheek', the jazz standard written by Irving Berlin and made famous by Fred Astaire, added a stylish change of pace.
Yet, it was perhaps the trickier numbers that best showed what this collaboration was all about.
"Abang Muriz likes to challenge me to try something new. I am not a classical singer, but I welcome the opportunity to push the boundaries of my vocal abilities," Jaclyn said before the concert.
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STEPPING OUTSIDE HER COMFORT ZONE
One of the night's most anticipated challenges was 'O Mio Babbino Caro', the famous opera aria by Giacomo Puccini.
Jaclyn also took on 'Time to Say Goodbye', a track made famous by classical crossover legends.
Before the concert, she acknowledged that performing with a full orchestra could be daunting and required intense focus and control.
"Every emotional nuance and breath matters when performing with a full orchestra. The audience can hear the smallest details, so I need to remain focused and in control throughout," she said.
Jaclyn rose to the occasion withΒ 'O Mio Babbino Caro', while her solo rendition of 'Beribu Sesalan' demonstrated her ability to carry a song associated with multiple singers.
She even surprised the crowd with 'Chong Bai', the popular Mandarin hit by Taiwanese singer Fish Leong.
For Muriz, the aim was not simply to pair a celebrated singer with a full orchestra, but to explore what she could achieve beyond her familiar repertoire.
"Everyone knows the strength and power of Jaclyn's voice. For this concert at DFP, I wanted to challenge her to step outside her comfort zone and try something unexpected," he said before the show.
The concert also featured new symphonic arrangements by Aubrey Suwito, Luqman Aziz, Gerard Salonga, Shahhakam Mokhtar, Teuku Umar Ilany, Leonard Yeap and Muriz himself.
The arrangements added fresh layers to Jaclyn's repertoire.
A JOURNEY THAT CONTINUES
Despite the musical risks, the evening remained anchored by the anthem that launched Jaclyn's career.
Jaclyn closed her main set with 'Gemilang', bringing the evening full circle to the song that first put her on the map.
She returned for two encore performances, 'When I Fall in Love' and 'Di Bawah Pohon Asmara'.
Jaclyn also took a moment to chat with the audience, joking that she was delighted so many people had turned up despite the haze affecting the country.
The light-hearted remark offered a glimpse of Jaclyn's charm, complementing a performance that demanded considerable technical skill.
Jaclyn's concert places her among Malaysian singers who have performed with the MPO, including the late Tan Sri S.M. Salim, Datuk Seri Sheila Majid, Datuk Seri Siti Nurhaliza and Datuk M. Nasir.
But 'Gemilang Bersama MPO' was, above all, a persona triumph, allowing her to honour her past while pushing her limits in the present.
The title 'Gemilang', meaning 'glorious', has long been associated with Jaclyn's musical journey.
On the DFP stage, the song served as a reminder that success does not mean standing still.
More than two decades after her win, Jaclyn remains eager to learn, experiment and take risks, showing that even an established singer can discover new possibilities by stepping beyond her comfort zone.
© New Straits Times Press (M) Bhd