The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.
El Cortijillo and Lozano Hermanos Bulls for Joselito Adame, Pepe Moral & Juan Del Álamo.
Thus begins San Isidro, La Fiesta’s show piece event. A month of toro’s which should be a a treat for the aficionado. However, by now we are used to this being a challenge of the aficionado’s endurance and patience. As if it was not tough enough to triumph in Las Ventas, the empresa tends to give us a wide array of cartels combining the figuras, second class toreros, some inadequate toreros and, of course, the well connected failures.
Pleasingly, this afternoon, we were able to enjoy a trio of promising toreros. Joselito Adame and Pepe Moral had each cut ears in Sevilla, while Juan Del Álamo was that ferias unjust exclusions. They were facing a string of Lozano family Nuñez bulls that, notwithstanding the gaanadería’s inconsistency, would offer variety to the usual Domecq serving.
Joselito Adame opened the feria with an impressive looking colorado and careto bull. It displayed manso tendencies during the lidia, but retained a powerful charge. The animal was a tricky customer for the muleta, it charged with mobility, but lacked consistency and although it would come from a distance, its charge into the lures was short. Adame performed a long faena, trying to unlock an emotive charge from the bull with either hand. He managed one emotive series with the right hand by judging the positioning and distance between each pass to perfection. However, despite his solid performance, the faena was ultimately inconsistent. Adame concluded his performance with a full and well executed estocada.
The fourth bull offered few possibilities. It showed the same mansedumbre in the opening tercios to the whole corrida. However, with the muleta its charge had little style, with the bull holding its head at mid-height throughout. He began with estatuarios, but toreo por alto did not suit the bull at all. Following some more flaps to take the bull to the centre of the ring he managed a complete series en redondo with little emotion. Joselito tried during the long faena to try to string together an acceptable series of passes, but to no avail.
Pepe Moral’s first bull attitude before the picadors was even more manso, barely allowing itself to feel the steel. Nevertheless, it was happy to charge after lures and men, even if it did so with no style or cadence. After an initial series of doblones, during which the bull seemed reticent to charge, Moral opted for toreo en redondo with the left hand managing a couple of good series of long and low naturales. The bull was tougher on the right side, with Moral only managing the odd isolated pass. Back on the left hand managed another three emotive series of naturales, peppered with the odd trincherazo to show some creativity. Moral had showed the valour to stay still, the knowledge to position himself correctly and the ability to take the bull long through the pass with impeccable timing. It was the type of faena that makes me wonder whether I am too indulgent with toreros; the bull was tough and seemingly impossible, yet Moral managed to extract a very good faena where many other would have floundered and been entirely excused because of the bull’s condition. Although he managed a full estocada, Moral also necessitated some descabellos thereby losing the ear his performance would have thoroughly deserved.
The fifth animal reached the muleta with a delicate charge that lacked the nerve and motor to make it emotive. Moral was able to torear cleanly with either hand, although the performance missed the emotion that could have been provided by a stronger, more repetitive animal. Nevertheless, Pepe showed his very good current form, teasing the bull through the faena, and culminating with a couple of pleasing series with either hand. Another solid showing from a torero who has caused an excellent impression throughout the early part of this season. Moral has given us good faenas on each appearance, even though the bulls he has drawn have generally been poor and tough. If the mundillo was organised as it should be, his impressive performances would be rewarded with a string of contracts in the provinces.
Juan Del Álamo’s first bull gave a similar performance in the first three tercios to its two predecessors; but its difficulties allowed Domingo Siro to shine with a dominant performance in banderillas. The bull had a demanding and nervy charge, with Juan starting the toreo fundamental in the centre of the ring without tester passes. The first three series were well linked and although they lacked reposed, they were rendered emotive by the bull’s charge and Del Álamo’s ability to link his toreo. The bull became rajado during the second series of naturales, but Juan managed to bring the faena back together on the right hand; the extra size of the lure allowing him to keep the bull focussed. The torero realised that he was on the verge of the ear, and thus concluded with manoletinas – a risky choice because the bull did not seem apt for such a finish, but, to his credit, Del Álamo managed to link a number of tight passes bringing his performance to a close on an emotive high. Another example of how structure is key to a faena. The full estocada gave way to an ear that was petitioned by a majority and disputed by a minority…
The corrida’s closing bull was a dull animal. Del Álamo could only display his technical wherewithal and desire to please. It cost him a spectacular voltereta (including a trip to the infirmary after the corrida) and Juan was once again stranded on one ear. Like Moral, Del Álamo has been another of this spring’s starlets. He did not appear in Sevilla, but had previously triumphed in Arles with a string of Baltasar Ibán bulls. Juan deserves more contracts. It is not a case of needing the experience to develop his toreo, but that he is a capable torero who can give a good afternoon.
No comments:
Post a Comment