The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.
López Gibaja novillos for Francisco José Espada, Cristian Climent and Leo Valadez.
An intriguing cartel which signalled the beginning of the end to the taurine Fallas. It would be interesting to assess Espada, a torero that had previously excited us with a good performance last San Isidro, following his disconcerting performance in Olivenza. Would we be able to see the development that is required in a leading novillero? Climent is a local lad, who gave an honest performance last Fallas, but was unable to parlay this into more than three contracts throughout the season – as always with novilleros (an indeed all young toreros) I will be looking to analyse his current state and his potential to develop. Leo Valadez is a Mexican novillero, from Aguascalientes, who was making his debut with pics of whom I had little prior knowledge.
It was disheartening that, with such a potentially intriguing cartel, the plaza was almost empty. On one hand it is understandable. After seven straight days of bulls, a certain weariness might creep in for the general public, especially if they consider novilladas to be lesser spectacles, below the level of a corrida de toros (for the record, I find novilladas to be very interesting spectacles, the novillos offer more consistency than the four year old and there is a good group of novilleros that are able to serve a quality spectacle; of course, it is for the mundillo to get this message out to the casual aficionado and create sufficient expectation for them to attend novilladas). Moreover, the weather looked horrible and the town was no longer in fiesta. Nevertheless, it is incumbent on the bullring impresario to organise his events to ensure the highest attendance possible at each one, perhaps a revised strategy is needed.
The first novillo of the afternoon suffered a voltereta early in its lidia which greatly reduced its strength and impetus. It was a novillo that required a firm hand in order to guide it through the pass, otherwise it was easily distracted. Although Espada seemingly had the ability to do so, and managed it on several occasions, his attempt at a faena was thwarted by the wind. Nevertheless he reminded us that he is a solid technician, although he carries out his work with certain coldness and needs to learn to communicate, through his toreo, with the crowd.
Espada’s second faena was on a similar level, although somewhat more emotive. Francisco José suffered a serious looking voltereta during the saludo capotero, which, thankfully, did not prevent him from continuing the lidia. The novillo had a profound charge, but did not readily repeat its charges. Espada was decisive, firm and able to extract a number of linked passes, which he eventually, as the faena developed, moulded into complete series. Another solid technical display from Espada who seems ready for the alternative. He has the technique to cope with the four year old, whether he can use this to create emotive and moving toreo will hold the key as to whether he can build a career for himself. Predictions are a mugs game, but I will say that it is tough for a novillero after the alternative and better young prospects than Espada are struggling to find a niche in the senior escalafón.
Climent performed a daring, but clumsy quite by gaoneras to the first bull. I will not question Climent’s valour in citing the bull for gaoneras from the centre of the ring in the middle of a howling gale, but the gaoneras were marked by excessive movement and therefore not altogether satisfactory. Climent undertook to place banderillas to his first novillo with mixed results. The highlight was the closing pair al remolino, not so much for the remolino (which stopped well before reaching the bull) but for the tight placement. He opened the faena on his knees in the centre of the ring and managed an exciting series with the right hand – the bull was mobile and vivacious. However, Climent was not able to channel these charges into emotive series en redondo once on his feet. The opening couple of exchanges were marked by the excessive distance between Climent and the novillo. Once the animal slowed and became more reticent, Climent was unable to gain the necessary steps between each pass in order to ensure the bull repeated its charges. A swift sword thrust allowed Cristian to cut an ear for a faena that barely merited such prize.
The fifth novillo was a tough opponent, liable to cut in on every pass and head to the man rather than the lures. It required a strong hand and a decisive matador. Unfortunately, Climent was unable to deal with the animal and its difficulties. Partly down the wind and partly down to his own shortcomings, he did not handle the lures with the firmness and confidence necessary to dominate the novillo. Climent is daring and aims to please, but he needs to develop technically in order to perform the controlled and reposed toreo he needs in order to further his career.
Leo Valadez welcomed his first novillo into the ring with pleasing tijerillas. Despite being his debut, he was assured in the lidia and also performed a cleanly executed, orthodox tercio de banderillas. His assured manner continued during the faena de muleta. The novillo was bland and the faena could not be brilliant, but Valadez showed his solid technical foundation and the ease with which he can manage novillos. There were the logical faults in someone of his experience, but it was an altogether positive calling card. Unfortunately, his performance with the sword was not at the level of his handling of the lures and he necessitated a number of thrusts and descabellos to conclude his work.
By the time the sixth novillo hit the sand the afternoon had descended below mediocrity, the few enjoyable moments of the first half of the novillada were diluted by general malaise that overcame proceedings. Despite my earlier laments at the small attendance, those that stayed at home might have had a more pleasant afternoon (not to mention cheaper and warmer!). Valadez brightened the dark clouds of the afternoon with an attractive quite by zapopinas, his hands were held lower than is usual in such quite and he composed his figure almost like a manzanares-esque chicuelina – a very personal touch to a quite that can often seem untidy. He placed banderillas with mixed fortune, although in Leo’s defence the novillo was not ideal for banderillas as it was reticent to charge and pressed towards the boards. In light of this, the chances of a positive faena seemed slim. Nevertheless, after some tester passes, Valadez was able to settle and perform some very notable toreo with the left hand. The bull was vibrant, with a note of difficulty, but Valadez was able to control its charges with his left an extracted a couple of low and reposed series. A series with the right hand followed suit, with the added virtue of Valadez being able to sustain a bull that wanted to head for the boards. Valadez relaxed, passed the bull close to him, stayed still and extracted some very long passes. He killed effectively and cut a well-earned ear. A very solid debut for Valadez, although, for the crowd, it perhaps did not make up for the two previous lacklustre hours.
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