With performances on February 14 and 15, 2026, at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Gilberto Santa Rosa started the year “at home” with two sold-out shows and the successful launch of his “Íntimo” tour. That is always the goal. On the island, the audience is as demanding as they are generous and the singer knows it. Following the concerts, “El Caballero” posted on social media: “Puerto Rico, thank you for giving us two nights full of love, dancing, and so much music at home! What a thrill it is to sing at home!”
On January 30 of this year, the album that shares the tour’s title was released. In Puerto Rico, two shows were scheduled for Valentine’s Day weekend. The first coincided with Valentine’s Saturday; the second was added for the following day due to how quickly the first round of tickets sold out.
At exactly 6:46 PM on Sunday, February 15, 2026, the stage of the Coliseo de Puerto Rico welcomed Gilberto Santa Rosa’s orchestra to begin the second concert, marking the salsa singer’s long-awaited reunion with the Puerto Rican public. According to a press release from Edumil Ruiz’s agency: “These performances are part of a series of special concerts celebrating the month of love (…) and represent the long-awaited reunion of ‘El Caballero de la Salsa’ with his Puerto Rican audience after two years since his last performance on the island.”
A Night of Rhythms and Ovations
The performance began with high energy and impact from the very first track. The opening bars were seasoned with the sounds of the Puerto Rican cuatro, played by Fabiola Muñoz. “Déjate querer” featured a timbal solo by Pete Perignon, while “Cartas sobre la mesa” highlighted Saviel Cartagena’s saxophone. These were followed by “Ahora o nunca,” “Tú,” “Amor para la historia,” “Quiéreme,” and “Almas gemelas,” which featured Juan Carlos Vega on an aerophone solo; followed by “Yo no te pido” and “Conciencia,” for which the audience gave the artist a thunderous standing ovation.
Between songs, Santa Rosa took a moment to address the crowd: “I was born, raised, and live here. And it moves me to know that here in Puerto Rico, I am still dearly loved.” He added that he is a fan of singing to the brokenhearted with “scorned” lyrics set to savory, danceable arrangements. Addressing the contradiction of that combination, he stated, “We Puerto Ricans are capable of crying and dancing at the same time,” capping the explanation with: “That’s just how passionate we are.”
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With the performances on February 14 and 15, 2026 at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico, Gilberto Santa Rosa began the year in “his home” with two sold-out shows.
After his remarks, “Gilbertito” explained he would welcome a beloved artist to sing “Misterio,” an urban salsa track with lyrics “about a relationship where you don’t know if it’s coming or going, starting or ending.” Gerardo Rivas took the lead in his solo role, which required Pete Perignon to fill in on the congas while Pedro Marcano took over the timbales.
Tributes and Special Guests
Later, Gilberto Santa Rosa dedicated a segment of the concert to a legend Puerto Rico bid farewell to last December. He stated that Rafael Ithier was a musical genius whom he considered a mentor and a father in music, dedicating the iconic “Las hojas blancas” to him. Notably, the production featured a team of sign language interpreters who translated the entire concert in real time.
The repertoire also included “Vino tinto,” “Cosas nuevas” highlighting Pedro Marcano on the flugelhorn and “No me dejes solo,” which kicked off with a mozambique rhythm and rumba clave on the drums, courtesy of Gerardo Rivas and Tito Echevarría. The most anticipated moment arrived when Santa Rosa asked the crowd to join him in a chorus that allowed “El Caballero” to pay his respects to special guests. The “Choliseo” vibrated as the crowd chanted: “Mira quien llegó / Quién está ahí / Qué bueno que te vino a ver” (Look who arrived / Who is there / How good they came to see you). The tenacious sonero greeted the following guests in perfect rhyme and with his trademark elegance: Don Perignon, Luisito Ayala, Luis Vázquez, Juan José Hernández, Elwood Cruz, Marilin Pupo, Cucco Peña, Lissette Álvarez, Willie Chirino, his wife Alexandra Malagón (whom he called “The owner of my heart”), and Ismael Miranda, among others.
The evening continued with “No pensé enamorarme otra vez” and “Para vivir,” for which he was joined by Yeika Álvarez and “a representation of the Arturo Somohano Philharmonic Orchestra of Puerto Rico.”
A Monument to Nostalgia
“Tengo una muñeca,” followed by a fusion that progressed from boogaloo to cha-cha-cha and finally to salsa with Gilberto showcasing his skill on the maracas led us into a monument of nostalgia. The memory of the conga player Santa Rosa had worked with since their days in Willie Rosario’s orchestra until his passing in 2021 was honored with “Impaciencia.” The song showcased the Jimmie Morales Signature Series drums by Remo Percussion©, which sponsored “El Rey del Seco” (The King of the Dry Hit) from 2005 to 2016.
During this segment, “El Caballero” displayed his own skills as a talented conguero while singing, accompanied by Gerardo Rivas (the orchestra’s conga player) and Pete Perignon (the timbalero) on either side. While the audience was spellbound by the sight of the three musicians at their drums, this writer wondered if Gilberto was reminiscing about the days when he used to imagine he was a singer, using an upside-down trash can as a drum in the group led by Don Perignon.
The “Army of One”
This intervention was followed by “La agarro bajando,” which preceded the introduction of the band members, “musically directed by the master of the trombone,” Georgie Torres. The lineup included:
- Backing vocals: Yeika Alvarez and Gino Ramírez.
- Puerto Rican Cuatro: Fabiola “The one who holds her own” Muñoz.
- Trumpet: Rebecca Zambrana (with the orchestra for 29 years) and Pedro Marcano.
- Trombone: Anthony Rosado (also a ballroom dance champion).
- Saxophone/Flute: Francisco “Paquito” Cruz and Saviel Cartagena.
- Piano: Luis Marín.
- Congas: Gerardo Rivas.
- Timbales: Pete Perignon Morales.
- Bongos: Rafael “Tito” Echevarría.
- Bass: The legend Johnny Torres.
- Keyboard/Aerophone: Dr. Juan Carlos Vega.
- Vocals: Michael Pérez.
Santa Rosa also praised the technical and audiovisual teams, producer Rafo Muñiz, and Edumil Ruiz, noting that “all these people make this work.”
After identifying his team who gave a masterclass in what the military calls an “Army of One” the hits “Conteo regresivo,” “Perdóname,” “Que alguien me diga,” and “Que manera de quererte” rang out. Gilberto Santa Rosa celebrated Valentine’s weekend by once again proving why he holds the loyalty and preference of his Puerto Rican fanbase.
From the start, the energy never wavered. The crowd sang and danced along with the artist, the musicians, and the dancers on stage. The vast repertoire serves as a reminder of the countless hits “El Caballero de la Salsa” has collected throughout his prolific career.
Also Read: Bandleader and conga player Tony Rosa tells us how he built his career
