The view
from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.
Montalvo
Bulls for Morante de la Puebla, José Mari Manzanares & Juan del
Álamo
The best
laid plans of men are often laid waste by substandard bulls. Sadly, today
followed that script as a poor string of Montalvo bulls compromised this
corrida. Manzanares and Del Álamo enjoyed slightly better luck than Morante
and each drew one bull that allowed them to perform some work of note. However,
the overwhelming feeling was that these were a string of poorly presented bulls
that were markedly void of any of the nerve or qualities that make the toro
bravo such a special animal.
Morante’s first bull lacked strength and
did not charge with any style or ease. Morante saved himself the task of
trying to extract water from a dry well and earned a bronco for his (lack of)
effort.
The
fourth was much of the same. It was another weak bull that lacked casta and
should have been sent back. The bull spent his whole time on the sand either
falling over or resisting to charge. Morante tried (on this occasion he
did try to torear, despite the faltering bull) to paint the odd artistic
muletazo, but it was not to be – he was facing an empty bull. Another poor
showing with the sword gained him another bronco (although, part of this was
directed at the palco).
Manzanares’s
first bull seemed to injure one of its hind legs during the first tercio – this
hindered its ability to charge, but was not serious enough to lead to calls for
the bull to be changed. The impediment in the bull’s charge made constructing a
faena difficult, and ultimately it was a fruitless endeavour. However, José
Mari did manage to polish the bull with his sense of timing and managed a
couple of vibrant series of derechazos towards the end of the faena.
The
afternoon’s fifth bull charged with little composure (perhaps due to an eye
problem), but with a certain emotive nerve. Manzanares displayed determination
in order to try and control the bull, and eventually submit it under his
powerful muleta. This allowed him to perform several good series of derechazos
that were among the most vibrant and emotive of the afternoon. A pleasing
faena, but one that was lost in the mire of this disappointing corrida.
Manzanares assured himself of an ear with a good sword thrust.
Juan Del
Álamo realised that if the bulls were not charging, he had to engage the crowd
with some pyrotechnics. Therefore, he greeted his first bull with a larga
cambiada de rodillas (which were followed by some very slow veronicas on his
feet) and began his faena, again, on his knees. Thankfully, this bull had a
more lively charge than its brothers and allowed Del Álamo to construct a very
good faena indeed. The bull would charge from a distance, which allowed Juan to
use the bull’s inertia to conclude three well timed series or derechazos; Del
Álamo was in control of the bull and the toreo flowed long and smooth. He then
took the left hand and performed the outstanding two series of the faena. Juan
ensured that, between each pass the muleta stayed at a few inches from the
bull’s eyes allowing him to hook the animal on the next pass. Each series of
naturales was built to a striking crescendo, the last pass of the series being
the longest and flowing perfectly to a forced chest pass. Wanting to secure the
crowd’s attention, and he triumph, he finished the faena as he started, on his
knees. Aside from the excellent toreo en redondo, Del Álamo interspersed his
fundamental toreo with varied remates, such as the odd farol, molinete,
trincherazo and kneeling chest pass, these showed his fresh mind. A pity that
very poor sword work cost him one, possibly two, ears.
The final bull of the afternoon followed the general pattern of the
corrida. A weak bull that was void of casta. Del Álamo tried to perform toreo,
but it was all but impossible before such an animal. The arrimón with which he
concluded showed a desire to please, but at this stage, I rather fancy that the
crowd would have been pleased to return home as quickly as possible ato put
this ghastly string of bulls behind them.
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