On August 16, 2025, El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico took over the Teatro Nacional in Lima for a full show before a fervent Peruvian audience. Nicknamed “La Universidad de la Salsa,” the Puerto Rican band is one of the most enduring institutions in Latin music: founded in 1962, it has weathered more than six decades without ever losing its signature swing, built on blazing horns, impeccable choruses and Afro-Caribbean piano and percussion sections. This full live concert unfolds the group’s landmark repertoire, between salsa dura classics and dancefloor hits that swept across Latin America. On stage, the singers’ precision choreography and the orchestra’s energy recall why El Gran Combo remains an absolute benchmark of the genre. A multi-song filmed live performance from one of world salsa’s great names, this Lima show attests to the longevity and professionalism of a dance machine still at the peak of its craft.
El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico — Teatro Nacional, Lima, 2025
Why this recording
Uploaded the very next day by a private individual, Clemente Aguilar, the video follows El Gran Combo de Puerto Rico's 1 hr 35 min show at Lima's Gran Teatro Nacional on 16 August 2025. The concert took place less than four months before the death of the orchestra's founder, Rafael Ithier, on 6 December 2025. Songs reported that night include “Ámame”, “Un verano en Nueva York”, “Brujería”, “Te regalo el corazón” and “El aguacero”.
— Simon Janvier, live-sound professional and editor of the catalogue
Recording technical sheet
| Rights-holding channel | Clemente Aguilar |
|---|---|
| Uploaded | |
| Exact runtime | |
| Resolution | HD (720p+) |
Metadata checked on YouTube on 29 September 2026.
Published on September 20, 2026 by Simon Janvier
