National Bertsolaris Championship 2017
The 17th edition of the National Bertsolaris Championship will be held between 23 September and 17 December. It is the ninth championship organised by the Association of the Friends of Bertsolaritza.
The National Bertsolaris Championship 2017 will be divided into 14 sessions. The contest will start in Baigorri and, for the fourth year running, the final will be held in the Bilbao Exhibition Centre in Barakaldo.
This year a total of 43 bertsolaris (verse singers) will be taking part. In addition, there will be a group made up of 18 theme presenters, as well as 20 judges.
The National Bertsolaris Championship is held once every four years and is extremely popular. However, it is just as important to bear in mind what this movement is about.
Bertso (improvised verse) is the basis of bertsolaritza and it hides the secret of the championship. Day after day, bertso spreads from village to village, town square to town square, school to school, reaching every spot in the Basque Country. Bertsolaritza is a broad and dynamic movement, and the work involves many people. This non-stop activity is reflected in the National Bertsolaris Championship.
