CANCELLED: 'Wicked' star Cynthia Erivo’s highly-anticipated SPAC concert
Star with local ties to join Philly Orchestra instead for that night’s show.
Wicked super-star Cynthia Erivo was to hit the SPAC stage on August 22 for the most highly-anticipated concert during Philadelphia Orchestra’s 2025 summer residency. Her cancellation due to “scheduling conflicts” sent shockwaves through the local classical music crowd.
“There should be no scheduling conflict if she was already scheduled,” said one fan with tickets for the performance.
“I’m devastated,” said another ticket-holder.
In her place, SPAC and the orchestra have booked the popular and critically-acclaimed Jon Batiste, winner of seven Grammys — including 2021 Album of the Year for We Are — from a whopping 22 nominations. His 2023 Netflix documentary American Symphony was also a huge hit.
“Jon will put on a great show,” said yet another ticket-holder. “But he’s not in the same league as Cynthia. She is simply the ‘it’ star right now.”
Tickets to An Evening with Cynthia Erivo will automatically be transferred to A Special Evening with Jon Batiste and The Philadelphia Orchestra, but ticket-holders who prefer a refund or credit can do so via email.
Batiste is married to renowned New York Times writer and best-selling author Suleika Jaouad, who’s from Saratoga. The A-list couple met during a summer music intensive at Skidmore.
Batiste’s concert will be the very day his new album, Big Money, is released and the first time he’ll perform its music. He kicks off his national “Big Money Tour” August 27 in Kansas City, Missouri.
The new album melds classic and modern styles of R&B, Americana, soul, roots, jazz and gospel.
“[Jon Batiste’s] return to SPAC carries a special kind of magic — a homecoming for an artist whose roots run deep in our city,” said SPAC CEO Elizabeth Sobol in a statement. [From his formative days at the Skidmore Jazz Institute to his electrifying performances at our Saratoga Jazz Festival, our community has had the rare privilege of witnessing his extraordinary rise from emerging talent to global icon. While we are disappointed that Cynthia Erivo will not be joining us this summer, we are elated to welcome Jon in celebration of his highly anticipated new album.”
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