National Bertsolaris Championship 2013

The 16th edition of the National Bertsolaris Championship will begin on 29 September and end on 15 December. This will be the 8th championship organised by the Association of the Friends of Bertsolaritza.

The National Bertsolaris Championship 2013 will involve 14 sessions. It will start in Amasa-Villabona and for the third time running the final will be held at the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Barakaldo.

This edition will involve 43 bertsolaris (verse singers). In addition, there will be a group of 14 theme presenters and 16 judges will be involved. The National Bertsolaris Championship is held once every four years and is hugely popular. However, it is important not to lose sight of what this movement is really about.

At the end of the day, bertso (improvised verse) is the basis of bertsolaritza and therein lies the secret of the Championship. Day after day bertso is spreading from town to town, from square to square, from school to school, into every corner of the Basque Country. Bertsolaritza (improvisation) is a broad and dynamic movement, and many people are involved in its work. All this constant activity is reflected in the National Bertsolaris Championship.