In the message of this year’s Bizkaia Championship, Bertsozale Elkartea stressed that, like the forest, Bertsozale is a rich ecosystem. Behind the work of the bertsolaris, the authors of the themes, the judges, the organizers, the sponsors, the amateurs and the volunteers who are willing to cooperate are also an essential part of this ecosystem. Thanks to this collaboration, bertsos fans are enjoying a round championship.

After the five-quarter final dispute, the championship is at the gates of the semi-finals. It is precisely in the last quarter of the final disputed in the Mendibarren fronton of Berriatua that the names of all the finalists were known. One of them will be Oihana Bartra, who was the winner in Berriatua, and premiered last year. After participating in the end of 2014, he failed in the 2016 one and returned to Miribilla forcefully.

From start to finish, the performance of the Bartra was superior to that of the other components of the stage. He had no choice but to sew his ideas, without any mistake. The judges awarded him 469 points, while the second ranked, Josune Aramendi, totaled 446.5 points. In spite of a few small mistakes, Markina's was very elegant, but he lacked to round some verses, like the others who were left behind. Third was Ibai Amillategi with 446 points. Thanks to its intonation, the audience was attracted at times.

The other three stayed behind. Itxaso Paia (411.5), Lander Ibarluzea Aitxulua (404.5) and Asier Alcedo (399). The curious time of the program came from the hand of Aitxulua, who started the exercise of the big zortziko with a melody of zortziko. However, he was also able to warm his listeners. For example, the verses that, together with Alcedo, in the decade of the ten, had spoken in favour of the resurrection of the old musical formation, provoked many applause. “Again Rolling Stones, the people need/ the stone that has no moss,” the Pope concluded.

In prison, the issue was: “You’ve been writing the message for a long time. You sent him to the wrong person.” The bertsolaris mainly concerned with partner relationships. For example, from that point of view, Oihana Bartra stitched the story from top to bottom and at the last point he gave a shot. Although the message had been sent to a wrong person, none of the six were very sorry, as a witness to the Pope’s ruling: “The machines are also wrong, and the people more.”

The first semi-final quote, on 18th, on the fronton of Berriz, with free entrance. So far, we have seen that the ecosystem of bertsolarism in Bizkaia is in good health, and in the forthcoming programmes they will also show that it is very alive.

Classified at semi-finals

Winners of the five quarter-finals qualifiers:

Imanol Uria, Malen Amenabar, Txaber Altube, Aitor Bizkarra, Oihana Bartra.

By order of punctuation another five will pass:

Ander Elortegi, Unai Mendiburu, Eneko Abasolo Abarkas, Arrate Illaro, Julen Erezuma.

The eight finalists in 2016 were as follows:

Xabat Galletebeitia, Miren Amuriza, Nerea Ibarzabal, BEÑAT Ugartetxea, Onintza Enbeita, Etxahun Lekue, Jone Uria, Ibon Ajuriagojeaskoa.