What is a quartet in the COAC and list of all those of the Carnival of Cádiz in 2023

Cadiz It is a city closely linked to humor; It is part of the idiosyncrasy of the people of Cádiz and the moment in which it is most seen (and enjoyed) is during the course of Carnival. Beyond the streets full of people in costumes, the best (and genuine) thing about the Cadiz Carnival is being able to enjoy the fun songs that the musicians sing through the streets of the city. But that music humor It is not something ‘amateur’ typical of the street: before the carnival starts, dozens of people from Cádiz —and other Andalusians, and from other parts of Spain— meet at the Gran Teatro Falla in the Official Contest of Carnival Groups (COAC ), which in 2023 begins on January 21.

Throughout the different phases, comparsas, chirigotas, choirs and quartets They meet on the stage of the theater to show, for around half an hour each, their sense of humor to the world. Among the musical groups, the quartets are the smallest, not only in number of components but also in participation in the contest. Although one may think that all quartets are made up of four people, the truth is that they can be made up of a minimum of three and a maximum of five people. The quartets of the Carnival of Cádiz are usually accompanied by few instruments (whistles, claves or güiros, sometimes a guitar) and their repertoire is made up of parody, cuplés and free theme.

The strong point of the quartets is the parody, with a most ironic and scathing staging. In the 2023 edition of the COAC there are four participating quartets.

The four quartets of the COAC of 2023

• The COAC ‘We didn’t pass one more’ (This is starting in 2022) – January 21
• EI The hand that rocks the cradle – January 28
• El Pópulo Gladiator Workshop School – January 29
• The watchmen of the flagstone – February 4

Which quartet won in 2022 at the Carnival of Cádiz?

In the last edition of the Official Contest of Carnival Groups (COAC) of Cádiz, which took place in spring instead of winter, as usual, the winner was the quartet The ultra-orthodox of the Cardoso alleys by Ángel Gago, one of the most awarded quarteteros of the COAC. Those led by Ángel Gago perform this year with the quartet Escuela Taller de Gladiadores El pópulo.

El Morera, historical cuartetero and a thousand times winner

Although Ángel Gago’s quartet won last year, another of the most renowned quartet members in recent years is Manuel Jesús Morera Rioja, Manolo Morera, better known as the mulberry. He has come to win, as he explains in his own biography, the quartet modality for six consecutive years at the COAC, making him “a true king of genius”.

In addition to his facet as a quartet player, El Morera is also dedicated to expand your sense of humor at other times of the year: humorist and monologist, he has a Christmas play where he explains, also in a humorous tone, the different passages of the birth of Jesus.