A Special Evening with Jon Batiste
and The Philadelphia Orchestra
Friday • Aug 22, 2025 • 7:30pm
Join us for a SPAC exclusive as 7-time GRAMMY award-winning artist Jon Batiste makes his Philadelphia Orchestra debut, celebrating the release of his new album BIG MONEY.
On BIG MONEY, Batiste melds classic and modern styles of R&B, Americana, soul, roots, jazz, gospel and more to create sounds of jubilee and diasporic expression, featuring collaborators from Randy Newman to frequent Jay-Z collaborator No ID.
The first half of this exclusive performance will feature works from Jon’s upcoming album BIG MONEY, slated for release on the same day, alongside his band. The second half will mark his debut with The Philadelphia Orchestra. This appearance will be his first time back at SPAC, following his Saratoga Jazz Festival performance in 2018.
Limited tickets available!
If you don’t see amphitheater seats available, we encourage you to keep checking back as inventory may change. In the meantime, reserve your spot on the lawn to see this superstar under the stars!
This performance has a 4-ticket limit for online purchases. If you’re interested in purchasing 4+ tickets, please call the Box Office directly at 518-584-9300.
Premier Parking Upgrade Available!
Premier parking optional upgrade available for this performance! Limited spaces available.
Purchase a premier parking space for $40 and enjoy easy access to the Route 50 entry gate.
General admission parking is free.
Performers
Jon Batiste | singer, songwriter, composer
Steven Reineke | conductor
Jon Batiste is a seven-time Grammy Award-winning and Academy Award-winning singer, songwriter, and composer.
Batiste released his eighth studio album, Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1), in November 2024 via Verve Records/Interscope. Marking the first installment in his new solo piano series, the project showcases Batiste’s interpolations of some of Beethoven’s most iconic works, reimagined through an expansive lens. These reimagined classics embody the indomitable spirit of the blues, and—true to Batiste’s “message of open-armed inclusivity” (New York Times)—embrace a broad genre spectrum.
Beethoven Blues (Batiste Piano Series, Vol. 1) follows World Music Radio (released August 2023 via Verve), which draws inspiration from Batiste’s mission to create community and expand culture with the power of music. Featuring collaborators including Jon Bellion, Lana Del Rey, Lil’ Wayne, and more, the album received positive reviews from critics who praised the project for its universal message and genre-defying sound. Hailed by NPR as “a sprawling exploration of what global music can sound like,” the album received a total of five Grammy nominations, including Album of the Year. Batiste kicked off his first-ever headlining tour, Uneasy Tour: Purifying the Airwaves for the People, the following year.
Batiste’s innovative score is featured in Jason Reitman’s SATURDAY NIGHT, which released in theaters in October 2024. Depicting the chaotic 90 minutes leading up to the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live in 1975, the film is underscored by Batiste’s musical masterpiece, which features a blend of jazz, classical, and contemporary elements. Batiste composed and produced the music live on the soundstage in front of the cast and crew, perfectly capturing the intensity and unpredictability of the show’s debut episode.
Batiste was the subject of Matthew Heineman’s moving 2023 documentary AMERICAN SYMPHONY, released on Netflix in partnership with Barack Obama and Michelle Obama’s Higher Ground. Batiste and Grammy winner Dan Wilson penned the emotional song “It Never Went Away” for the film, which earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Song and two Grammy nominations.
In 2021, Batiste released We Are, which was nominated for 11 Grammy Awards across seven different categories, a first in Grammy history. He went on to win five Grammy Awards that evening, including Album of the Year. In 2018, he received a Grammy nomination for Best American Roots, and in 2020, he received two Grammy nods for the albums: CHRONOLOGY OF A DREAM: LIVE AT THE VILLAGE VANGUARD and MEDITATIONS (with Cory Wong). Batiste also composed and performed music for the Disney/Pixar film SOUL, for which he won an Academy Award for Best Original Score alongside fellow composers Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross. SOUL also earned Batiste a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, an NAACP Image Award, and a Critic’s Choice Award. From 2015 until 2022, Batiste served as the bandleader and musical director of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS.
Steven Reineke is one of North America’s leading conductors of popular music and is in his second decade as Music Director of The New York Pops at Carnegie Hall. Additionally, he is the Principal Pops Conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Principal Pops Conductor of the Houston and Toronto Symphony Orchestras.
Reineke is a frequent guest conductor and can be seen on the podium with the Chicago, Philadelphia, Dallas and Detroit Symphony Orchestras.
On stage, Mr. Reineke creates and collaborates with a range of leading artists in hip-hop, R & B, Broadway, television, and rock including: Killer Mike, Maxwell, Common, Kendrick Lamar, Nas, Ne-Yo, Barry Manilow, Cynthia Erivo, Ben Rector, Cody Fry, Sutton Foster, Amos Lee, Dispatch, Jason Mraz, and Ben Folds, amongst others.
As the creator of hundreds of orchestral arrangements, Reineke’s work is performed worldwide and can be heard on numerous Cincinnati Pops Orchestra recordings. His wind ensemble compositions are published by the C.L. Barnhouse Company and are performed by concert bands perennially.
This program is made possible in part with generous support from Russell Sage College
The Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2025 residency is made possible in part by support from The Adirondack Trust Company
“Kids in Free” presented by Fenimore Asset Management
SPAC Amphitheater
Our main stage has a 25,000 person capacity with sheltered seats for 5,200 people and a sloping lawn for an additional 20,000 people.
SPAC Event Ground Rules
Applicable for SPAC-produced events only, including Saratoga Jazz Festival, New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and other special events.
Permitted Items
- Food, beverages, and disposable utensils (compostable, plastic, reusable, etc.)
- Blankets and breathable ground coverings
- Umbrellas
- Please note: Only personal-sized umbrellas will be permitted on the amphitheater lawn.
- Lawn Chairs
- Please note: Lawn chairs must not exceed 43” in height when opened. Lawn chairs on the center amphitheater lawn must not exceed 26″ in height when opened.
- Tents
- Please note: Tents of any size will NOT be permitted on the Amphitheater lawn or are immediately in front of the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage.
*Items listed are subject to change or vary on show day*
Items Not Permitted
- Metal utensils
- Plastic tarps
- Lawn chairs over 43” in height when opened
- Tents are prohibited from the Amphitheater lawn as well as the area immediately in front of the Charles R. Wood Discovery Stage
- Grills, cooking equipment, or any flame that uses a liquid, gas, or gel accelerant
- Laser pointers
- Drones
- Professional audio or video recording equipment
- Cameras with detachable lenses
- Bikes, rollerblades, skateboards, scooters, etc.
- Pets (except ADA approved service animals)
- Illegal drugs or substances
- Weapons of any kind
*Items listed are subject to change or vary on show day*
Ground Rules
- Security Procedure – To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience for SPAC visitors and staff, all bags will be inspected, and all personnel will be searched via metal detectors. Bags include but are not limited to coolers, baskets, tote bags, purses, diaper bags, strollers, and other containers. Any item that is not permitted to come onto the SPAC grounds should be disposed of or returned to your vehicle.
- Smoking is permitted on the SPAC grounds in designated areas only. Please ensure that all cigarette butts are disposed of properly.
- Guests are welcome to bring items such as blankets and umbrellas but please consider others around you. If your items are disruptive to others, you may be asked to remove them.
- Reentry is permitted for SPAC-produced events. Guests must obtain a reentry wristband from staff at the gates prior to exiting the venue.
- SPAC has a zero-tolerance policy for harassment of any kind, including but not limited to race, national origin, gender, gender identity, gender presentation, sexual orientation, age, ability, religion, and citizenship. Harassment includes but is not limited to stalking, verbal or physical intimidation, offensive verbal comments, physical assault and/or battery, inappropriate physical contact, and unwelcome physical attention. If you are made to feel uncomfortable or unsafe, please immediately report any concerns to SPAC staff or security personnel so appropriate action can be taken.
House Rules for Classical Performances
Applicable inside the amphitheater for New York City Ballet and Philadelphia Orchestra events.
- Beverages are permitted in the amphitheater, but food is not.
- As a courtesy to the performers and the audience, guests arriving after the performances begin will not be seated until the earliest appropriate opportunity in the performance at the discretion of the House Staff.
- Please turn off or silence all mobile devices prior to the start of the program. Texting and making calls in the theater is not allowed. Should an emergency arise in which you must use a mobile device, we ask that you step outside of the theater to avoid disturbing other guests.
- Video, photography, audio, or cell phone recording during performances is prohibited.
All SPAC ground rules are subject to change. By entering the SPAC grounds, guests agree to abide by the rules listed above. Management reserves the right to modify these rules or can request to see the contents of any belongings brought on property at their discretion. We appreciate your cooperation in maintaining the utmost levels of safety and convenience for our guests and staff.
Group Sales
Experience SPAC together! From groups of friends and family to corporate outings, senior centers, summer camps, and arts schools, we can curate a special experience for your group of 10 or more. We offer discounts, flexible options and can work with your group leader to tailor your needs for a memorable day.
