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Serrano Imperio - Samba Imperio – Imperio Serrano 2011
Imperio Serrano Samba-School
On this article, we will detail through text, photos and videos, a brief history of one of the most traditional Samba-Schools in Rio: Imperio Serrano . The “Green and white” colored samba-school produced several memorable samba-theme songs like “Brazilian Aquarelle”, impeccable Carnaval parades, and legendary samba composers like Ismael de Oliveira. Império Serrano, whose history goes back to the 1940´s, won nine Carnaval championships in Rio de Janeiro, being one of the all time winners of the Rio de Janeiro Official Carnival competition. Let´s learn below a little bit more of Imperio Serrano.
Imperio Serrano Origins:
In 23rd of March 1947, Imperio Serrano Samba-school was born during a meeting at Dona Eulalia do Nascimento’s house, a samba music and carnival lover. Its origin was based from a dissent of a small samba-school which existed at the time called “Prazer da Serrinha”, whose members were very unsatisfied with the carnaval they presented. First, they tried to elect a new board of directors. As they had no success, they rebelled giving origin to Império Serrano Samba-School. This name was proposed by Sebastião de Oliveira and the colors of the school Green and white were a suggestion of Antenor, another fan of Samba. Amongst school’s founders lies Sebastião de Oliveira (Molequinho), Antônio dos Santos (Fuleiro), Elói Antero Dias, João de Oliveira (Gradim), Zacharias da Silva Avelar and Mano Décio da Viola: all Carnival Lovers.
Below a great photo of a monumental float of Imperio Serrano.
Photo Credit: Danielle Cezar - Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro
Along its history, Imperio Serrano ´s composers wing is one of the most respected in the samba world, including names such as Silas de Oliveira, Mano Décio, Aniceto do Imério, Molequinho, Mrs. Yvone Lara (first woman to be a part of composers wing in a samba school), Beto sem Braço, Aluizio Machado, Arlindo Cruz amongst others. Imperio was also the introducer of an instrument called Frigideira – literally the frying pan - at the Drums section.
Below, the "passistas wing of Imperio Serrano 2011"
The school's history is crowned by splendid sambas, true classics of the theme-sambas such as Aquarela Brasileira ("Brazilian Aquarelle") (1964 and 2004), Exaltação a Tiradentes ("Exaltation to Tiradentes (1949), Os Cinco Bailes da História do Rio ("The Five Balls of the History of Rio") (1965), Heróis da Liberdade ("Liberty Heroes") (1969), Bumbum paticumbum Prugurundum (1982), among others.
Photo Credit: Danielle Cezar - Prefeitura do Rio de Janeiro
The 1980´s
In 1982, Clara Nunes, a well known Brazilian singer recorded the “Serrinha” , a samba song that was a tribute to the school written by Mauro Duarte and Paulo César Pinheiro. Still in the 1980’s, the school had great moments with parade themes created by Carnival Producer Fernando Pamplona and others such as : “Mãe Baiana Mãe” from 1983, “Eu Quero” from 1986, “Com a Boca no Mundo, Quem não se Comunica se Trumbica” from 1987 and “Para com isso, dá cá o meu” from 1988. During the 90’s, the school went through serious internal problems that ended up in three demotions: one in 1991, another in 1997 and the last in 1999.
In 2001, the school returned to the elite of carioca carnaval but remained fighting with difficulties to remain at the Special Group. In 2010, the traditional samba-school brought to the Sambadrome a theme by Brazilian contemporary singer Arlindo Cruz, Maurição, Carlos Sena and Elmo Caetano, which was considered by the critics as the best of the year and told the story of the resistance of the “Dockers’ Union” of Rio. Albeit they had this great samba, the school had problem on the main float, which compromised the parade results.
Below Vania Love, Queen of Drums 2011 & the famous Agogo Section of their Drums Section:
In 2004, the samba school reedited the theme “Aquarela Brasileira”, considered one of the most beautiful samba themes of Carnaval’s history, and even with financial problems and internal disputes, cheered the crowd at the Sambadrome. Even with the great success of that samba, the overall result of the 2004 parade did not secure their chances for winning the Carnival contest. In 2007, the school was once again demoted to the Access Group A. Imperio was then acclaimed champion of the following year with the theme “Taí, eu fiz tudo pra você gostar de mim” and returned to the Special Group.
For 2009 carnaval, after the return to the Special Group, the president Humberto Soares Carneiro was reelected and designer Marcia Lage began her solo career as carnaval producer, after years working alongside her husband Renato Lage, she reedited the samba theme of 1976 “Lenda das sereias rainha do mar” (already reedited by Inocentes de Belford Roxo samba school in 2006), besides that, she brought back to the school samba singer Negô . The school ended the parade with a 12th place being once again demoted to the Access Group A.
For 2010, after the return to Access A Group, Império Serrano samba school brought the carnaval producer Rosa Magalhães and will present a carnaval theme about the character João do Rio, named as “João das Ruas do Rio”.
The official Imperio Serrano Flag Below:
FoTO Credit: Olhar Folião
Technical Information Imperio Serrano
Founded: March 23rd 1947 (62 years)
Godmother school: Império da Tijuca
Colors: Green and white
Symbol: Crown
Neighborhood: Madureira
President: Humberto Soares Carneiro
Carnaval Producer: Rosa Magalhães
Official Interpreter: Bira Silva, André Moreno, Clemilson Silva, Jovaci and Arthur da Mocidade
Carnaval director: Jorginho do Império
Harmony director: Marco da Costa de Souza
Drum section master: Mestre Gilmar
Drum Queen: Vania Love
Mestre-sala and porta-bandeira couple: Alex Marcelino and Danielle Nascimento
Choreographer: João Wlamir
2011 theme: "A Benção, Vinícius"
Below, the logo of the 2011 Theme of Imperio Serrano about the great poet Vinicius de Moraes:
