Imperatriz Leopoldinense won the title of best school in the Special Group to parade at Marquês de Sapucaí in 2023. The ninth title of champion of the Rio de Janeiro carnival came after more than twenty years of drought. The last victory was in 2001. Since then, the school also suffered a relegation in 2019, until it managed to return to the Special Group in 2022.
The Green and White of Leopoldina was the fourth school to parade on carnival Monday, with the theme “The trouble of the guy that the Excommunicated dealt with malice and the Most Holy did not provide shelter,” inspired by cordel literature about the bandit Lampião.
The parade by the carnival designer Leandro Vieira speculated on what might have happened to Lampião after his death. He brought constant references to the northeastern hinterland.
Cátia Drumond, president of the school, celebrated the school’s recovery story, which returned to the protagonist’s place at Sapucaí.
“It’s the comeback of the school, with a new management, with a sensational new carnival designer, Leandro Vieira, the percussion master, Luiz Alberto Lolo, and all the others. I can only congratulate everyone and thank them. It’s a lot of happiness. I’m sure that the Complexo do Alemão is celebrating,” said the president.
Next Saturday (25), Imperatriz will close the champions’ parade, which will also feature the presence of the other five top finishers. They are:
6th place: Acadêmicos do Grande Rio
5th place: Estação Primeira de Mangueira
4th place: Beija-Flor de Nilópolis
3rd place: Unidos de Vila Isabel
Runner-up: Unidos do Viradouro
Champion: Imperatriz Leopoldinense
The Império Serrano finished in 12th place and was relegated to the Gold Series.
Source: Agência Brasil