SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 27th April (EUROPA PRESS) –
The Casa del Carnaval has reopened with a showcase of the winning fantasies from the previous competitions, alongside two fresh exhibitions. Among the displays is the costume of the current Carnival queen of Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Corina Mrazek González, named ‘The World’, designed by Santi Castro. Also featured are the four bridesmaids’ fantasies, along with the attire of the Children’s Queen and the Elder Queen.
The reopening was graced by the city’s mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez, in the company of Development Society advisor, Carmen Pérez, and Festivals councillor, Javier Caraballero.
Bermúdez highlighted that the Carnival House, “a symbol of Santa Cruz’s most vibrant festivity, has seen a steady stream of visitors since its inauguration in 2017, reaching a total of 128,635 by March 2024,” underscoring that this cultural venue “has functioned as a display of the Carnival’s rich history and dynamism, serving as a gathering place for both locals, with 49,808 visits, and visitors from the mainland and abroad, with 34,101 and 44,740 respectively.”
As Bermúdez stated, the year 2024 had “started off strong, with over 10,000 visits in the first quarter alone. In terms of visitor nationalities, the Spanish take the lead, followed by the French and Germans, respectively.
Regarding the new additions, advisor Carmen Pérez announced that the Casa del Carnaval now features two additional exhibitions, ‘The Enchantment behind the Mask’ and ‘Melody and Heritage,’ located in the Multipurpose hall and the Suspi room, respectively.” She further added that the temporary exhibit ‘The Enchantment behind the costume’ delves into the Costume Contest, showcasing a selection of individual costume winners by Miguel Delgado Salas and Group Costume winners (ranging from 6 to 12 people) with The Illusionists. The exhibit provides a historical journey through the evolution of Carnival costumes over time.
Meanwhile, the Suspi room hosts the exhibit ‘Melody and heritage,’ entirely dedicated to the rondallas, a distinctive feature of the Carnival – a genre exclusive to Santa Cruz de Tenerife and its Carnival, always accompanied by their instruments and voices. The exhibit boasts sheet music, librettos, musical scores, and even some of the most awarded costumes in the rondallas’ history.
Another highlight at the venue is the ‘Pioneer Showcase,’ a gem of the permanent exhibition, now showcasing unreleased material from the Afilarmónica Ni has. Fú Ni Fá, alongside librettos, magazines, and songs from the murga, donated in memory of the late lyricist and former member Nicolás Mingorance.
Additionally, three new posters promoting the Santa Cruz Carnival have been unveiled in the main area of the House following recent renovations – featuring the 2008 Juan Galarza poster, the 1987 Jiri Georg Dokoupil poster, and the 1991 Mel Ramos poster.
Those interested in exploring the Casa del Carnaval can do so from Monday to Sunday, between 10:00 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Free tickets can be obtained on the website www.casacarnavalsantacruz.com.
