Best known for being the OG Malaysian Idol, Jaclyn Victor needs little introduction. The Malaysian, singer, songwriter and actress has garnered an impressive list of credentials in the local entertainment scene.
This month, Jaclyn Victor notches another impressive credential as she shares the stage with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra in their presentation of the Magnificent Seven concert. A presentation of iconic soundtracks and scores, Victor will lend her vocals for the performance bringing to life some of the world’s most beloved scores.
Ahead of the performance we speak to the Malaysian songbird to uncover her involvement in the concert, her love for film scores and more.
You will be performing with the MPO for The Magnificent Seven. How excited are you to lend your vocals to bring these soundtracks to life?
I’m extremely excited about this prospect because it’s not every day you get to perform with the MPO and it is truly an honour and a big privilege. Plus, it’s a different ball game altogether and you need to step up your game since it is totally different from performing with a regular backing track or band. When you perform with the MPO, I think the intensity of it all, it really comes to life – the stillness before the big build up, and the different dynamics of the orchestra musician and sound that honestly, makes your heart swell. I had the privilege of singing with orchestras before but I always look forward to performing with the MPO because they are something else.
Do you have any input on any of the songs that will be performed at the concert?
The MPO had already curated the list of songs for the programme prior to them approaching me, and I was given the opportunity to perform the James Bond theme songs.
In terms of performance inputs, once I have listened to all of them only then could I add some suggestions although not too much as the songs itself are amazing and very well-orchestrated. I would not want the vocal part to dominate the music so whenever I perform with the orchestra, it’s always about tastefulness.
You should be one with the orchestra. So I can make small little changes vocally but not too much, because you want the whole thing to be a beautiful combination of vocal and all the instruments together.
As a singer, which song or songs from a motion picture remains your favourite and why?
Oh my goodness… I have so, so many songs to choose from but since we are performing songs from Titanic, my pick would be the most iconic songs of our time which would be, ‘My Heart Will Go On’ . If I may just tell you a funny story, I was actually at the Celine Dion concert and when she started singing the song, I turned around and saw a bunch of manly-buffed guys who were all teary-eyed as they sang along with Celine Dion! So that I think shows the impact of how great this song was – and it still is!
Why do you think musical movie scores resonate with audiences?
It’s a whole different atmosphere and it brings out many emotions in you. It is one of the reason why I am filled with trepidation whenever I am invited to sing with an orchestra but at the same time I absolutely love it. Just by listening to a full orchestra playing, it can really take you to places even if there is no vocal part involved.
A well written score coupled with the orchestra’s ability to produce an entire range of emotions from gentle melodies to big, lush climaxes, is the reason why many people have come to appreciate and resonate with movie music. On a personal note, I have always been impressed by orchestral musicians and how crazily and amazingly good they are at what they do. I once heard a single violinist play, and he brought tears to my eyes. They are just so good at creating such great sounds from their instruments and that makes me envious very envious of them, how I wish I play an instrument and as well as they do.
Which song from a movie is the hardest to perform and why?
From my experience, it’s the quietest song – the ones that start off really low and really quiet to the point where you can literally hear your heart beating and your voice quivering as you’re singing because everything around you is so still, quiet, and soft. So, that’s the kind of song that makes me nervous prior to performing them. Songs like ‘Memories’ from Cats is a good example, the beginning is quite a challenge as it starts off really low and quiet, but I am fine once the music builds up and I get to soar, because that is my thing, to soar (laughs).
Which musical score are you looking most forward to performing?
I love all the James Bond songs very much! It will be my first opportunity to sing them with an orchestra live in front of an audience. Of the four that I will be performing, I think the one that is going to be most challenging would be the Titanic because it is 19 minutes long. Of course, I’m not going to be singing or vocalising all the way throughout that 19 minutes but it is going to be quite an experience because Titanic is such an iconic and impactful film, and the soundtrack is amazing too. I’m grateful to the MPO for giving me this opportunity and do come to the concert! Yay!.
Jaclyn Victor performs with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra for the Magnificent Seven concert on Saturday, 23 July 2022 at 8.30pm. For further information and to book tickets visit mpo.com.my
(Images: MPO)