Regine Velasquez-Alcasid is preparing to close a major chapter in her performing career with “Finale,” her final major solo concert at a major venue.
Asia’s Songbird will headline the three-night concert on Oct. 17, 18 and 19 at the SM Mall of Asia Arena in Pasay City, with Paolo Valenciano directing and Raul Mitra serving as musical director. The concert is produced by IMusic Entertainment Inc.
For Velasquez, “Finale” is a way of thanking the people who have supported her throughout her career, particularly after four decades of performing.
“This is actually a thank-you concert to everyone who’s been supporting me all these years,” she said at the press conference.
Initially planned for two nights, a third show was added due to the demand. Velasquez recalled that tickets for the first night sold out in minutes hence the clamor for a third show.
“We didn’t actually expect them to sell out right away, at least within a day or two but not in minutes. We were caught off guard,” she said.
While the three-night run marks a major milestone, Velasquez said what makes “Finale” special is the thought of leaving behind something that has been a regular part of her life.
She recalled how she had been doing concerts almost every year, sometimes three or four in a year.
“I started performing in concerts at 17. And every year I’ve been doing concerts,” she said. “That’s why it’s like a routine. [This ‘Finale’]... it’s like giving up a part of me.
She also revealed feeling emotional when she saw the promotional material for “Finale,” although she initially tried to hide her feelings.
“I was crying because I couldn’t process it. I was emotional... not so much about my voice but the fact that I’m actually giving up something that I haven’t known for quite a few years,” she added.
The decision to stage “Finale” comes as Velasquez continues to adjust to changes in her voice. During the press conference, she opened up about experiencing what she described as “menopause voice,” when singing suddenly felt unfamiliar.
“There was a time when it felt like I had forgotten how to sing, and I couldn’t figure out what was going on with me. But every time I would go and see my doctor, there was nothing wrong,” she said.
Velasquez explained that although there was no problem with her vocal cords, she noticed changes in how her voice behaved, how it sometimes cracked and how she had difficulty controlling it.
It forced her to understand her voice differently rather than try to recreate the sound she had earlier in her career.
“I still have my voice. It never left. It’s just that it’s in a different form, so I have to work with what I have now,” she said.
“Im no longer what I used to be 10, 20 years ago. I can no longer sound like that,” she added.
Despite this, she is aware that this does not diminish what she can still do as a singer. It has become part of the reality of performing at this stage of her career.
Velasquez then gave her take on concertgoers who record entire performances on their phones.
“I don’t think we can avoid it,” she said.
She personally does not like the practice, citing both the quality of recordings and the tendency for online audiences to judge performances through videos rather than experience them live.
“As a performer, I feel bad about it. It shouldn’t be that way,” she said.
For Velasquez, the imperfections that occur during a live performance are part of what make it different from a recording.
“A performance shouldn’t be judged, especially a live performance. You cannot compare a live performance to a recorded one,” she said.
She pointed out that live singing involves adrenaline and the possibility of imperfections, but those elements can also create an emotional connection between the performer and the audience.
“A live performance has adrenaline. You breathe, you have flats and sharps, but at the same time, with all those imperfections, that’s where the feelings come from. That’s where the heart comes from. That’s where you can feel what the performer is feeling,” Velasquez said.
She encouraged concertgoers to put their phones down occasionally and experience the performance without viewing it through a screen.
“Don’t you find it kind of distracting that you’re watching and you’re holding a phone? You’re watching on your little screen when you can actually put your phone down so that you can feel the impact of the performance,” she said.
“You’re not going to be able to feel that same feeling. That’s just my personal opinion,” she ended.
