EL PASO, Texas — More than three decades after Juan Gabriel took the stage at Mexico City’s Palacio de Bellas Artes, his landmark 1990 performance is returning to the big screen, giving El Paso audiences a chance to experience the concert in a newly restored theatrical presentation.
“Juan Gabriel: Mi Primer Bellas Artes” is scheduled to arrive in U.S. theaters Sept. 15, including screenings at Cinemark locations in El Paso and Premiere Cinema El Paso Bassett + IMAX. The release comes just before Mexican Independence Day and marks the 10th anniversary of the singer’s death.
The concert film was restored and re-edited for theaters by Sony Music Vision, with Fathom Entertainment handling the U.S. theatrical release. The presentation runs about 1 hour and 48 minutes and includes an opening section featuring previously unseen rehearsal footage and material from Juan Gabriel’s personal archive.
The original Bellas Artes concerts took place in May 1990. Juan Gabriel’s appearances at the prestigious Mexico City venue were notable because popular music had rarely been associated with a space traditionally known for opera, ballet, classical music and other fine arts.
The restored film gives audiences a shortened version of that historic performance. The original concert lasted nearly three hours, so director María José Cuevas and the production team selected a portion of the performance for the theatrical release.
Cuevas, who also directed the Netflix documentary “Juan Gabriel: Debo, Puedo y Quiero,” said the goal was to preserve the energy of the original event while creating an experience that would encourage audiences to sing along in theaters.
The timing of the release also carries added significance for fans in El Paso and neighboring Ciudad Juárez, a city closely connected to Juan Gabriel’s life and career. The singer frequently spoke about his connection to Juárez, where he spent part of his childhood and built an enduring relationship with the community.
The theatrical presentation has already reached Mexican audiences, with its Mexico release beginning Aug. 28. The U.S. release follows Sept. 15 as part of a special theatrical engagement.
In El Paso, current theater listings show screenings at several Cinemark locations, including evening performances on Sept. 15. Premiere Cinema El Paso Bassett + IMAX is also listing the film for Sept. 15 and 16.
The film is being presented in restored picture and sound, with the new archival material offering fans a look beyond the original stage performance.
For longtime Juan Gabriel fans, the theatrical release offers an opportunity to revisit one of the most important performances of his career on a much larger screen and with updated sound. For younger audiences discovering his music, it provides a new way to see why the Bellas Artes concert remains an important part of his legacy.
