Details have been revealed of the National Bertsolaris Championship 2022

Getxo, Arrasate, Gotaine-Irabarne, Gasteiz, Donostia, Lizarra, Elizondo, Donibane Garazi, Irun, Durango, Amurrio, Baiona, Bilbo and Iruñea are to host the performances in the National Bertsolaris Championship 2022. Today Bertsozale Elkartea presented the complete calendar and full details of the championship. The presentation took place at the Euskaltzaindia headquarters in Bilbao, attended by Gontzal Agote, member of the presidential group in Euskal Herriko Bertsozale Elkartea; Idoia Trenor, coordinator of Bertsozale Elkartea; and Oier Iurramendi, coordinator of the National Bertsolaris Championship 2022.

The championship is to begin on 24th September. The first phase will consist of six performances and two sessions will be held each weekend. There will be seven semifinals, with one performance a week, on a Saturday. Finally, 18th December will see the final at Nafarroa Arena in Pamplona.

Due to the pandemic, the National Bertsolaris Championship is to be held five years after the previous edition, instead of four years as usual, and this is the tenth year organised by Bertsozale Elkartea, the Association of Friends of Bertsolaritza. Over the last two years, the association has worked hard together with local organisers, bertso schools and the performers themselves to revive bertsolaritza performances: "The situation has improved, and we are very pleased about this. However, we are following the situation of Bertsolari singing closely, as on the one hand the effects of the pandemic are not yet over, and on the other because the current situation of bertsolaritza is reflected in this", explains Gontzal Agote. The Bertsozale Elkartea association has been monitoring bertsolaritza performances, and figures in recent months point to an improvement in the situation.

"Despite what has happened in the last two years, it is fair to say that Bertsolari singing is very much present throughout the Basque-speaking regions," continues Idoia Trenor, adding, "It is important to explain where this vitality comes from. The championship is not a one-off project, but the result of the work and effort we put in day after day," and highlighting the work done by the six associations of friends of Bertsolari singing, Lanku Kultur Zerbitzuak and the Xenpelar Documentation Centre in education, research and fostering Bertsolari singing. The presentation was attended by the presidents and representatives of Bertsozale Elkartea from Araba, Bizkaia, Gipuzkoa and Nafarroa and Bertsularien Lagunak from Lapurdi, Baxenabarre and Zuberoa.

Tickets will go on sale from tomorrow onwards

Oier Iurramendi recalled that, as announced a week ago, all tickets will go on sale in the portal www.bertsosarrerak.eus tomorrow, 23rd June, from 9.00am onwards. "Tickets for the final will be sold at the headquarters of the Navarrese association from 10.00am to 2.00pm and from 4.00 to 6.00pm from 23rd to 20th June, except at the weekend."

For this period entrance to the final will be guaranteed for members of Bertsozale Elkartea. 

You can follow the championship through the sites www.bertsozale.eus and www.bertsoa.eus.