San Antonio, TX, August 27, 2025
News Summary
The San Antonio Philharmonic is set to host ‘Juan Gabriel: A Philharmonic Tribute,’ a unique concert series featuring the late singer-songwriter’s recordings synchronized with a live orchestra. Scheduled for three nights at the Scottish Rite Theater, this is the first time Juan Gabriel’s estate has authorized such an event. The Philharmonic aims to connect with diverse audiences while maintaining affordable ticket prices and supporting community initiatives.
San Antonio
San Antonio Philharmonic to present first authorized Juan Gabriel tribute with live orchestra
The San Antonio Philharmonic will present a three-night concert series titled Juan Gabriel: A Philharmonic Tribute from September 12 to September 14, 2025, at the Scottish Rite Theater. The concert series marks the first time the estate of Juan Gabriel has authorized the use of the late singer-songwriter’s recorded voice and projection synchronized with a live orchestra. Tickets are available now through the San Antonio Philharmonic website.
What is happening and why it matters
The Philharmonic’s production will combine live orchestral performance with synchronized video and audio of Juan Gabriel, creating a hybrid presentation that pairs archival material with a live ensemble. The series is a notable authorization from the artist’s estate permitting the blending of Juan Gabriel’s recorded performances with a live symphonic arrangement. The three-night run is scheduled at the Scottish Rite Theater, which the Philharmonic has established as its new permanent home for symphonic music in San Antonio.
Production and programming details
- Series title: Juan Gabriel: A Philharmonic Tribute
- Dates: September 12–14, 2025
- Venue: Scottish Rite Theater (designated as the orchestra’s permanent home)
- Artistic approach: use of recorded audio and video of Juan Gabriel synced with a live orchestra under the Philharmonic’s conducting team
- Ticketing: base ticket prices for classical concerts remain accessible, with a base price of $25
- Community access: tickets are donated to veterans and students as part of the organization’s accessibility measures
Context within the Philharmonic’s recent work
Since the closure of the San Antonio Symphony in 2022, the San Antonio Philharmonic has concentrated on innovative programming to serve the region’s cultural needs. Recent projects have included tribute concerts to other prominent Latinx artists and a reimagined staging of “The Nutcracker.” The Juan Gabriel tribute follows that pattern of blending popular cultural icons with orchestral presentation to connect with diverse community audiences.
Leadership has emphasized a community-first strategy focused on reflecting San Antonio’s cultural heritage. As part of expanding the concert-going experience, the Philharmonic has formed a partnership with Chef Johnny Hernandez to offer dining experiences during events. The organization also reports ongoing funding challenges while maintaining efforts to keep ticket prices accessible.
Potential expansion and outreach
Organizational leadership envisions broader regional and international engagement, identifying opportunities to expand programming beyond Texas, including into Mexico and other international markets. The Juan Gabriel tribute, involving the estate authorization for used recorded material with live orchestra, may serve as a model for future cross-border and archival collaborations.
How to attend
Tickets for the September 12–14 performances are available for purchase on the San Antonio Philharmonic’s official website. The Philharmonic continues to offer base-priced tickets for classical programming and provides donated tickets to veterans and students to broaden access.
Background
Juan Gabriel, the Mexican singer-songwriter, is widely recognized across Latin America and beyond. This series is the first time his estate has permitted the synchronization of his recorded performances with a live orchestra in this manner. The Scottish Rite Theater has been established as a dedicated venue for the Philharmonic’s symphonic music presentations following the region’s orchestral shifts after 2022.
Key features at a glance
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Concert series | Juan Gabriel: A Philharmonic Tribute |
| Dates | September 12–14, 2025 |
| Venue | Scottish Rite Theater (Philharmonic’s permanent home) |
| Innovations | Use of estate-authorized video and audio synchronized with live orchestra |
| Ticketing | Base classical ticket price $25; donations to veterans and students |
| Accessibility initiatives | Ticket donations for veterans and students; community-first programming |
Event timeline
| Date / Time | Event | Status / Source |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Closure of the San Antonio Symphony | Organizational development leading to Philharmonic programming |
| Ongoing (post-2022) | San Antonio Philharmonic focuses on innovative programming and establishes Scottish Rite Theater as home | Operational change and venue designation |
| September 12–14, 2025 | Juan Gabriel: A Philharmonic Tribute concert series | Scheduled performances at Scottish Rite Theater |
Simple visual statistics
Selected program counts and indicators (visual bars represent relative counts described below):
Examples include tributes to Selena, reimagined Nutcracker, and Juan Gabriel tribute (3 items)
Three-night run (representation: 60% of full width)
Closure in 2022 to scheduled events in 2025 (represented as 100% for a 3-year span)
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where are the Juan Gabriel tribute concerts?
The concerts run from September 12 to September 14, 2025, at the Scottish Rite Theater in San Antonio.
Is this the first time Juan Gabriel’s estate authorized the use of his recordings with a live orchestra?
Yes. The concert series marks the first authorization from the estate to use Juan Gabriel’s voice and projection synchronized with a live orchestra.
How are tickets priced and how can I access them?
Base ticket prices for classical concerts are set at $25. Tickets for the Juan Gabriel tribute are available for purchase on the San Antonio Philharmonic’s website. The organization also donates tickets to veterans and students.
What is the Scottish Rite Theater’s role for the Philharmonic?
The Scottish Rite Theater has been established as the Philharmonic’s permanent home for symphonic music and will host the Juan Gabriel tribute series.
Does the Philharmonic plan more programming like this?
The Philharmonic has emphasized innovative programming since 2022, including past tributes and reimagined classical works, and leadership has expressed intentions to grow outreach locally and potentially into Mexico and internationally.
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
Additional Resources
- KSAT: San Antonio Philharmonic expands cultural programming
- Wikipedia: Juan Gabriel
- Culture Map: San Antonio Philharmonic presents Juan Gabriel Tribute
- Google News: San Antonio Philharmonic
- Culture Map: New Season for San Antonio Philharmonic
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Juan Gabriel
- Express News: San Antonio Philharmonic’s new season
- Google Scholar: San Antonio Philharmonic
- Express News: San Antonio artists remember iconic Mexican
- Google Search: San Antonio Philharmonic Juan Gabriel
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