Arrecife celebrated this past night the third phase of the XXXIII Murgas Contest of the Arrecife Carnival 2023 that ended with the pass to the grand final next Friday of the groups Vacilonas, Tabletuos, Titi-Roys, Desahuciados, Simplones and Inadaptadas; after a hard-fought contest due to the enormous quality of the participants.
The children's murga Chau-Chau, which in the children's groups contest won the first prize in the category of "Interpretation, lyrics and music" and the second in the category of "Fantasy, design and costumes" was on this occasion in charge of starting the show with its usual flair, prelude to what would be a night full of emotions.
After the little ones, it was the turn of Los Simplones who opened the third phase of the contest wearing the fantasy "Like the one of 'Furgolista', but more warrior", work of the components of the murga Francis García and Mencey Curbelo and made by Renne dressmaker and a group of the group itself. Thus, the formation presided over by Mencey Curbelo, which is composed of forty-five members, presented its candidacy to the final interpreting the themes "Lexical family of the word pasar" and "Mr. Murgonderful", under the musical direction of Enrique Martín.
In second place, it was the turn of Los Titi-Roys, the formation presided over by Luis Tavío Morales, whose thirty-six members paraded on the stage of the Fairgrounds with a fantasy called "In memory of those who are no longer here, we dress up as Mexican catrines in this carnival" that has been designed by the members of the murga themselves who under the direction of Jonathan Peraza Herrera interpreted "Today our lyricist is you" and "Night of concerts", themes chosen to opt for the pass to the grand final.
The nervousness of the public and the participants themselves due to the uncertainty of the jury's decision could be perceived in the atmosphere when the last participating murga appeared on stage, Los Desahuciados, with its army of sixty-seven members presided over by Miguel Martín Morales who, in this year's edition, present a design by Iván Martín Hormiga called "From Indian puma I arrive at the carnival to sing and criticize what some do not want to hear". The historic group, founded in 1997, closed the contest with the interpretation of "The opportunists" and "The island of negations", under the direction of Adrián Hernández Cabrera; and their departure from the stage meant the beginning of the jury's deliberation while the "Trío Zapatista" took over from the murgas in the Fairgrounds to liven up the wait.
The comic group from La Palma, formed by Jorge Guerra, Rodrigo Melgar and Ramón Araújo, presented their show of theatrical songs and short monologues that delighted the numerous audience and helped to alleviate the tense wait.
Finally, after forty minutes, which seemed like hours for those who were impatiently waiting for the final verdict, the jury announced Vacilonas, Tabletuos, Titi-Roys, Desahuciados, Simplones and Inadaptadas, as finalists of the XXXIII Murgas Contest of the Arrecife Carnival 2023 that will take place this Friday, February 17 from 9:00 p.m. in the Fairgrounds itself.
In addition to the finalist murgas, the prizes awarded by the jury in the different categories were also announced.
In this way, the murga Los Titi-Roys won the "Presentation" prize; the "Criticón" prize went to the murga "Los Simplones" for the interpretation of the theme "Lexical family of the word pasar"; while in the section of "Design and Fantasy" the first prize went to the murga "Los Desahuciados", which was seconded by "Los Simplones" and, in third position, "Las Enraladas".
The finalist murgas
Murga Las Vacilonas
President Isabel Miranda.
Director: Marta Ruiz.
Components: 40.
Lyricist: Yeray Bajera.
Harmonizer: Luisma Muñoz.
Designer: Toño Aparicio.
Fantasy: "Today I make carnival to enjoy it again".
Murga Afilarmónica Los Tabletuos
President: David Cedrés.
Director: Crisanto Reyes.
Components: 60.
Designer: Toño Aparicio.
Fantasy: "20 years without dropping anchor".
Murga Los Titi-Roys
President: Luis Tavío Morales.
Director: Jonathan Peraza Herrera.
Components: 36.
Design: The murga itself.
Fantasy: "In memory of those who are no longer here, we dress up as Mexican catrines in this carnival".
Murga Los Desahuciados
President: Miguel Martín Morales.
Director: Adrián Hernández Cabrera.
Components: 67.
Design: Iván Martín Hormiga.
Fantasy: "From Indian puma I arrive at the carnival to sing and criticize what some do not want to hear".
Murga Los Simplones
President: Mencey Curbelo.
Director: Enrique Martín.
Components: 45.
Design: Francis García and Mencey Curbelo (components of the murga).
Fantasy: Like the one of "Furgolista", but more warrior.
Confection: Renne dressmakers and group of the murga itself.
Murga Las Inadaptadas
President: Cataisa Cabrera.
Director: Raquel Cabrera.
Components: 46.
Designer: the murga itself.
Fantasy: "I give you the magic that my enjoyment gives off"
