Montevideo carnival

Me with a Murga performer

The carnival in Uruguay

The event

The carnival in Uruguay is the longest one in the world, lasting in total for 40 days. The 3 main events are the opening on the first day, the parades in the middle and the final performance weekend. However, during all that 40 days, you can enjoy shows in a more relaxed way.

The comedy of a humorista
The comedy of a humorista

The final weekend performance

I have been only during the last weekend. Many groups perform a show in different theaters. A competition is organized for selecting the best group in his category. In the meanwhile, they perform in many places in the city just for entertainment.

Another revista performing
Another humorista performing

The different categories

  • Murgas

The typical group of Uruguay, a group of men singing together. They are all dressed in a fancy way and speak about a theme of the society.

  • Humoristas

A mix of theater, comedy, singing and dancing. The history is invented by the group.

  • Parodistas

The same as before, except that the story already exists.

  • Lubolos

Performers dancing samba, drumming and singing black people song.

  • Revistas

Dancers doing choreography with many types of music.

My weekend experience

At the Velodromo

A murga that is singing
A murga that is singing

I went here with the couch-surfer that hosted me. The Velodrome has a big show starting at 8.00pm and finishing around 2.00am. In total, more than 6 groups are performing each night.

The first impression is amazing. The costumes and the songs are incredible. On top of that, the production adds dynamics. Each group has a theme about the society and caricature it. Unfortunately, my Spanish was too limited for following the full show.

In any case, I spend a good introduction to the Uruguayan tablados (name of the scene where the groups performed).

At the Teatro de Verano (Summer theater)

Murga about the liberators
Murga about the liberators

At this place, each group plays the full show. Instead of 45 minutes, the show last for more than one hour. Moreover, the groups are judged here to the best of each category.

The revista dance performance
The revista dance performance

Even, if I was a bit far from the scene, I still can delight it. I saw my two favorite groups. One Murga that made a show about the South America liberators of each country. It was one of the show I understood the most and it was really funny. The other group was about dance (Revista). Although it is the only one of this category I saw, I loved the dance performance: salsa, bachata…

At the Museo de Carnaval (Carnival Museum)

A parodista in the carnival museum
A parodista in the carnival museum

I did an extra visit at the Carnaval museum with an Uruguayan that advised me everything about the carnival. She is really passionate by the carnival.
Moreover, she followed a group that was playing there. Unfortunately, due to a technical accident, the show of this group was canceled in the middle…

The place, smaller, was more relaxed and working-class.

In the street for a parade

Drummers in the parade
Drummers in the parade

Finally, I saw a parade in the street. Not the main one, as they processed in the middle of the 40 days but it was a nice event.

A typical performance of acting as a grand mother and grand father.
A typical performance of acting as a grandmother and grandfather.
Links

Information about events in the city

Carnaval in Velodromo

Planning and list of the different groups

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