FALLAS 13/03/2015 – PRIMERA DE ABONO

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Fuente Ymbro Bulls for Juan Bautista, Jímenez Fortes & Jesus Duque. 

The Fuente Ymbro bulls were the main attraction of the afternoon. The three matadors are firmly in the middle tier and fail to stir expectation. Juan Bautista has had a dignified career peppered with notable performances, but in light of the young toreros that have been left out this feria he was an unnecessary inclusion. Fortes has stagnated as a torero with valour but a precarious technique, however he is young, and therefore the most welcome addition to the bull. Jesus Duque took the alternative last Fallas, cut two ears and then did little for the rest of the temporada until he cut two ears once again in the Valencia October feria. Given the double triumph, and my conviction that triumphs should lead to more contracts (an obvious idea that the mundillo does not always apply), his appearance in the feria is entirely justified. However, on a personal level, my limited previous viewings of this toreo had not filled me with the wish of wanting to see him again. While this may seem like an overly grouchy opening paragraph, the Valencian public seemed to agree given the small attendance. Rant over, and aficionado hat placed firmly, I sat before the TV ready and willing to assess he performance of three toreros who we infrequently meet on a cartel facing a string of bulls from an attractive ranch.

The first bull was weak, but, if taken at mid height, would repetitively charge with class. Bautista understood this, beginning with two clean series of derechazos. The one pass in which Bautista lowered the hand the bull fell, thus confirming his technical approach. The bull charged with more vigour on the left side and Bautista’s toreo al natural therefore enjoyed greater intensity. However, although clean and correct, the faena came across as too rapid and bland, it lacked a series of emphatic passes to give it some character. Besides, despite its initial weakness, the bull maintained its mobile, classy and jovial charge throughout the faena, it even accepted lower passes more readily as the tercio de muleta progressed. The highlight of Bautista’s performance was an excellent estocada, going in straight and strong; it was perhaps the only truly emotive moment of the faena and the chief reason why the crowd petitioned for an ear. Given the lacklustre faena I would not have asked for an ear, but, rulebook in hand, the petitioners seemed to be in the majority.  

Fortes’ opening veronicas to the second bull were excellent, the bull charged emotively and with class, and Fortes accompanied the charge with his well-timed cape. Fortes recognised the bull’s class and opened the faena toreando al natural in the centre of the ring, he cited the bull from distance for the first two series, taking it long during the first few passes of the series, the slowing his toreo and adding an emotive element for the final passes of the series. The faena followed the same pattern for the next two series, on the right hand, although it lost some intensity. The bull maintained its class and sweetness throughout the faena, with an edge more casta it would have been a complete bull. It was encouraging to see Fortes being able to perform slow, well timed toreo to a classy bull, I still had the impression that reckless valour is still more in keeping with his concept of toreo. As it was, despite some beautifully executed passes, especially some accessorial toreo a pies juntos, the faena had too many inconsistencies to be entirely satisfactory. Nevertheless, the crowd once again petitioned for an ear, which might have been deserved had he not necessitated a descabello to follow the estocada and was ultimately not granted by the president. 

The third bull was undefined during the first two tercios, it was mobile and strong, but lacked focus and displayed a marked querencia towards the boards. Duque took advantage of the mobility during an attractive opening three series on the right hand, he took the bull long and low, ensuring that he readjusted his footing correctly between each derechazo. However, a touch of repose was missing in order to make the toreo truly emotive. This was another good bull, different to its predecessors, but its mobility and nerve made it interesting for the aficionado. Its principal failing was that the edge of nerve only lasted three series before being overcome by its manso condition. As this nervy mansedumbre came to the fore, Duque lost control of the bull and the faena, for all its early promise, dissipated. 

Bautista opened his performance to the fourth bull with a larga cambiada on his knees. However, the capote highlight of the lidia was a dramatic, but cooly executed quite by chicuelinas from Jímenez Fortes, he brought the bull very close, but was entirely in control. This bull was, like its brothers, another intriguing proposition, with a mobile and repetitive charge that allowed for toreo. Bautista clearly also liked the bull, dedicating it to the crowd and opening the faena with emotive, controlled and well linked doblones. However, although it had the mobility to support a string of series en redondo, it lost an edge of vigour with each consecutive series. Bautista’s toreo was again clean, but cold – he had the technique to extract passes as the bull became ever more reticent to charge, but the faena lacked emotion.  

Fortes once again shone in the quite to the fifth bull: citing the bull from a distance in order to perform closely worked gaoneras that showcased the dramatic element of his toreo. Fortes began this second faena in a similar vein to his first. In the centre of the ring, giving the bull distance and toreando en redondo without any test passes. The bull was strong, but somewhat reticent to charge. When it charged well during the opening gambits of the faena Fortes was able to torear long and slow. As it stopped, Fortes displayed firmness and valour to stand his ground and extract the odd pass from it. This was not a pretty or attractive faena, but Fortes was able to display his valour and work close to the bull, concluding with a startling arrimón. The closing manoletinas were exciting because of their closeness and, along with an effective estocada, were one of the reasons why Fortes was able to cut the afernoon’s only ear. 

The final bull was mobile but complicated; it moved a great deal, but lacked class and bravura. The emotion it conveyed was based on danger rather than emotion. Despite his efforts Duque, as is understandable for a torero of his experience, was unable to channel or control the bull. The faena’s only moment of note was the spectacular tossing suffered by poor Duque. Desperate to try and extract something meaningful from the bull (in order to secure his next contract), Jesús spent too long in front of the bull. He killed with an estocada caida putting an end to a disappointing corrida.

OLIVENZA 08/03/2015 – SEGUNDA NOVILLADA

The view from the sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

 El Freixo novillos for Posada de Maravillas, Ginés Marín, Pablo Aguado & Juan Carlos Carballo (corrida matinal). Aguado and Carballo were making their debut with pics. 

 

Posada de Maravillas returned to rings following a lengthy absence as a result of the serious hand injury he suffered in Pamplona last summer. The young novillero was visibly nervous before the paseillo and conscious of the importance of the morning, not just because it marked his return from injury but also, because of its importance in the wider context of his career. It has been two years since he burst on to the scene with a spectacular triumph in Olivenza and he needed to build some momentum for his alternative, which should be forthcoming. 

Thankfully Posada celebrated his return with a triumph, cutting two ears from his first novillo: a compliant, noble animal with sufficient mobility to allow for toreo en redondo. Posada is an elegant torero, and elegant toreo is always welcome. However, the highlight of this faena was his desire to take the novillo long through the pass, guiding it around his body and keeping his hand low. Allied to this was his technically sound toreo fundamental that allowed him to link the series to perfection and time the passes to a tee. Following his spectacular first season, I was disconcerted by some of Posada’s performances last year, before he got injured. However, I am happy to report that this morning, he looked as good as ever, combining sound toreo with artistic touches. The full estocada confirmed his two ear triumph. 

Ginés Marín was again on the card, looking to repeat Friday’s triumph. His saludo capotero was dramatic: Marín welcomed the novillo with a farol de rodillas, and sought to stay on his knees to torear. His desire to please overtook technical considerations and before he was able to execute the next pass the bull was on top of him, launching him to the boards with one shake of the head. Mercifully the bull did not pursue Marín and we had nothing more to lament than a serious fright. Once on his feet Marín executed some beautifully timed veronicas, capped with a wonderful low media. Marín remained engaged with the capote throughout the lidia and regaled us with a galleo by chicuelinas to take the novillo to the picador and some saltilleras as a quite – the variety was refreshing, but the intervention with the capote failed to connect with the crowd.

By the tercio de muleta the bull displayed the piquancy of casta, a most welcome addition that had been conspicuous by its absence in the previous novillada. The doblones with which Marín took the novillo to the centre of the ring was the perfect recipe to templar the bull’s vibrant charge, the test passes were emotive and dominant, concluded with an aesthetically pleasing vertical remate.  The bull charged long and committed on the right side, and Ginés was able to channel this into good series of derechazos marked by good timing and long passes. Given the novillo was more reticent to charge on its left horn, the faena lost some impetus when Marín opted to torear al natural. Back on the right side the faena gained greater emotional intensity as Maín slowly worked his way closer to the bull culminating in a controlled arrimón. The manoletinas to finish the faena were acceptable but unnecessary. Ginés is an effective cannon with the sword and claimed his third full estocada of the feria. The crowd enthusiastically petitioned for a second ear, which was granted, but one ear would have been a sufficient reward.   

Pablo Aguado greeted his first novillo in the centre of the ring with three tight faroles on his knees, although exciting, they were, technically not the ideal start and ended with a near tossing – I am willing to forgive this technical short coming in a novillero, toreo should be emotive and not merely academic, especially at this level. The bull retained the edge of casta that it displayed in the recibo capotero for the muleta, making its charge difficult to temper, but emotive. Aguado channelled this casta through early test passes and a low hand during toreo fundamental allowing him to sculpt some beautifully timed passes with either hand. However, the novillo’s charge was too uneven and all too often lacked commitment. It was evident that the animal’s initial nerve was founded in mansedumbre rather than bravura. The faena was therefore incomplete, but Aguado showed valour and good technique to overcome a couple of tossings and the problems offered by the novillo. As the faena faded, there was still time for Aguado to execute two stunning passes a pies juntos, one a natural, the other a chest pass with the right hand. An excellent sign off to an intriguing faena that was met with an ovation from the crowd and a minor petition that was rightly ignored by the president. There did not seem to be enough handkerchiefs and the faena, although technically sound and sprinkled with attractive toreo, was not quite deserving of an ear.

Juan Carlos Carballo was the mornings other debutant, his first novillo’s principal failing was its weakness and its resulting short and reticent charge. Carballo was confidently assertive and managed to extract one very good series of long naturales, the first three of the series were exceptional as the novillo’s momentum took it long through the pass, however as the animal lost this impetus, its lack of strength was evident and Caraballo could only manage short passes to finish the series. Juan Carlos continued the faena with incomplete series, which combined some good passes with some enganchones. Despite these lacunae, Carballo was careful to structure his performance to a crescendo with a closely worked arrimón during which he let the novillos horns brush his thighs – it may not be pure toreo, but it certainly ignites the crowd. Juan Carlos finished his faena with peculiar manoletinas, executed without the sword supporting the muleta’s cloth, followed by a desplante on his knees. He claimed a full estocada and was awarded two ears where maybe one would have been sufficient. 

The six ears that had been cut by the half way point were somewhat excessive, but this should not obscure that this had been an entertaining morning thus far (as the reader will have noted, there was a great deal to write about). I am not one to quibble over excessive orejas, but it is incumbent on the aficionado to assess and calibrate the faenas regardless of their ultimate prize. In that spirit, I would want to highlight Posada de Maravillas’wonderful faena once again; the only one, thus far, truly deserving of the double prize. Some credit should also be given to El Freixo’s novillos, without being a fountain of casta and bravura, they had enough raw qualities for the novilleros to perform interesting and enjoyable toreo. The positive behaviour of the novillos would continue into the second half of the corrida and allow for more pleasing toreo; my major objection with the animals was their poor presentation. 

Posada’s second novillo showed great mobility and desire to follow the lures. Such a charge needed a strong and imposing muleta to temper its strong nature, but Posada was not able to dominate on a consistent basis and the faena never took form. On the few occasions where Posada gave the novillo a low muleta, long passes and readjusted his footing as necessary between each pass he performed pleasing toreo. Ultimately, however, this was a disappointing faena, more so given the excellent impression Posadahad caused with his first toro, but an understandable result given that he is still a young novillero recovering from a serious injury. The key is to learn from this type of novillo and mature as a torero. 

Ginés Marín met the sixth novillo with an excellent series of veronicas, the charge was long and true, and Marín gave long and very low veronicas, he was entirely dominant and relaxed – this was a young man entirely in control. The series of veronicas executed as the quite was just as emphatic, exceedingly low capotazos given with rhythm and during which the whole body was accompanying the charge. It was truly beautiful cape work. The start of the faena was toreo to savour, low genuflected test passes concluded with a majestic cambio de mano, which all had the stamp of assuredness that Marín gives to his toreo. The toreo with the left and right hand was equally assured and imposing. Marín’s derechazos were long and the naturales silky, the bull passing very close to the torero on each occasion. It is a pity that the bull, lacked an edge of commitment to give Marín’s toreo an extra level of importance. Refreshingly, Ginés concluded with two series of parsimonious and pure naturales and some genuflected passes, rather than the oft-abused arrimón. A half sword recibiendo concluded the faena and led to Marín’s third ear of the morning. However, above any prize, the principal conclusion of Ginés’ performance is the mastery that characterises each facet of his toreo. He is a novillero that is beyond his years. 

As the seventh bull entered into the arena, its novillero, Pablo Aguado, was the only one that had not yet secured the puerta grande. Happily, he soon put this right with an excellent faena founded upon elegantly executed toreo en redondo. The El Freixo novillo certainly contributed to the tiumph, it had a long, classy and repetitive charge, especially on the right had side. A novillo like this can, of course, be a double edge sword, while it serves up the possibility of a triumph, if a novillero is unable to rise to its level it can be a worrying sign for their ultimate prospects. The faena began with a delicate series of passes naturales and cambiados to take the bull into the medios, concluded with an emphatically beautiful cambio de mano. Delicate is perhaps the best adjective for the faena, the bull’s classy charge called to be caressed with the muleta. Aguado duly did with long and smooth series of derechazos, seamlessly linked and concluded with a variety of artistic and elegant remates. The novillo was not as good on the left side, but this was no impediment to Aguado performing solid and emotive series of naturales. He killed with an untidy looking full estocada which was, nonetheless, effective and allowed him to cut two thoroughly deserved ears. 

Caraballo’s recibo capotero to the eighth and final novillo was attractive, beginning with a saltillera a porta gayola and concluded with a revolera on his knees. This was another very good novillo that reached the muelta with mobility and vigour. Carballo’s faena was inconsistent and below the level of this very good novillo. The charge required timing and repose, but Carballo’s suffered too many enganchones and he did not always guide the novillo long through the pass as its charge required. Carballo was better with the left hand, extracting a couple of series of smooth muletazos, but the faena underwhelmed given the novillo’s quality. Nevertheless, despite his technical shortcomings, Carballo showcased valour and a great desire to please, these are the basic qualities we require from our novilleros. There will be time to learn the trade. 

OLIVENZA 06/05/2015 – PRIMERA NOVILLADA

The view Sent from my sofa, my thoughts on corridas I have watched on TV.

Talavante novillos for Francisco José Espada, Luís Manuel Terrón, Ginés Marín & Varea.

In this age of limited novilladas it is welcome that the impresarios of Olivenza have not only programmed two novilladas, but also included an extra novillero in each one. Eight bull corridas can have the disadvantage of being somewhat too long to digest, especially if the spectacle is not of the desired level. However, I feel that this potential disadvantage is mitigated by the benefit to the fiesta (however minor) of allowing the opportunity for one more novillero from gaining experience. The animals chosen for this first novillada were from Alejandro Talavante’s recently formed ganadería; its combination of Garcigrande and Cuvillo origin yielded predictably compliant animals whose problems were rooted in a lack of casta rather than excessive bravura.

Espada’s first novillo remained undefined during the first two tercios, it displayed mobility and nobility, but a certain lack of focus that tended towards a rajado condition. Espada took advantage of the animal’s virtues to perform well linked series on the right hand side, however, the series lacked control and, therefore, emotion. The most striking element was Espada’s marked aesthetic concept, a certain emphatic elegance that came across as natural rather than a pose. Espada was much better with his left hand, his naturales were long, pure and profound; a very solid foundation from which to build and develop his toreo.  The faena concluded with figure of eight passes that aimed to grab the crowd’s attention, but, much like the faena itself, ultimately failed to ignite excitement. A series of pinchazos and an unseemly number of descabellos marred the conclusion of what, apart from the naturales, had been an eminently forgettable faena. 

His second faena began with a promising series of a dozen or so estatuarios; the animal once again had mobility but lacked casta. The good toreo continued as Espada began to perform en redondo with the right hand; his derechazos were long, well timed and exerted control over the novillo. Once again, Espada showed that the left hand is his forte; the bull’s mobility had tempered and he was now focussed on Espada’s muleta as the young novillero caressed its charge with his left hand. Espada concluded with another good series of derechazos and figure of eight circulares that were exciting but untidy. This had been a solid performance, despite a certain coldness in its execution. He might have been awarded an ear had he not required a pinchazo, estocada and descabello to kill the novillo. 

Francisco José had an acceptable performance this afternoon in Olivenza. He has undoubted quality with his left hand and possesses a defined elegant aesthetic concept; in order to take the next step he needs to perform with greater emotion.

Luís Manuel Terrón’s first novillo was wonderfully classy, although perhaps lacking a touch of piquant mobility to transmit emotion to the crowd. Luís Manuel was able to exploit the novillo’s class and constructed a worthy faena centred on wonderfully linked series with the right side; each derechazo was long and low, with Luís Manuel controlling the bull perfectly between each pass and not needing to adjust his footing at all through the series. The bull’s left horn was far below the level of its right so there was little toreo al natural to speak of. He killed the novillo with an effective half sword which led to an enthusiastic petition for two ears; only one was granted which, to my mind, was the correct award.

Terrón welcomed his second novillo a porta gayola, and he had to take evasive action in order to avoid being tossed during the larga cambiada. Once on his feet he gave some well executed veronicas capped with a couple of chicuelinas. It was a striking beginning with an acceptable mix of fundamental toreo de capote and populist elements. The faena began with test passes to take the bull to the centre of the ring. Once in los medios, Terrón showcased his dominant, low and long toreo en redondo. It is refreshing to see such good toreo fundamental from a young, inexperienced, novillero. Unfortunately, the bull was overly weak and every time Terrón was beginning to build momentum with his toreo, the bull would lose its footing and all emotion would collapse. His toreo al natural was at the level of his right hand, but the bull’s sickly sweet nobility and lack of strength wrested emotion from the faena. Terrón sought to overcome this handicap and secure a triumph by going through his entire repertoire. Although this approach is understandable, it may obscure that his best facet is the potential of his toreo en redondo, if he can continue to refine and perfect this he may have a future in this tough business. The long faena meant that the first aviso sounded as he was still toreando, he gave a full estocada that did not have immediate effect and, although he was on the verge of a third aviso, the bull folded in time and the local crowd petitioned for an ear that the president granted, ignoring the faena’s lack of structure and untidy kill. 

Ginés Marín was one of the revelations of last year’s Olivenza novilladas, and he reminded us of his positive credentials with his opening two veronicas and a media, each of which was slow, silky and dominant. A pity that the novillo’s long charge was accompanied by a marked lack of strength. Consequently, the animal’s charge in the muleta was entirely inconsistent; when it found strength it went long, but more often than not it lacked the ability to complete its charge. Accordingly, Ginés’ faena was itself inconsistent interspersing the odd wonderful pass with inconsequential muletazos. As is so often the case, he concluded with the obligatory arrimón that excited the crowd and cost Ginés a minor voltereta. A perfectly executed estocada, going in straight and strong, claiming a full sword was worth the oreja he was awarded.      

Marín’s faena to the seventh bull of the evening proved to be the corrida’s highlight. As with the entire the string, this novillo was noble, but lacking in casta. Therefore the emotive element of the performance was wholly down to Marín. He displayed the valour, assuredness and control to impose his will on the novillo and extract a number of series en redondo with either hand. These were well linked and slow, executed with a confident elegance that characterises Marín’s aesthetic concept. He displayed variety by way of attractive remates and concluded the faena with populist bernadinas that were performed closely and served to animate the public. He crowned his performance with a full and effective estocada that served him to cut two ears; two ears that marked his faena, and Marín’s performance as a whole, at a level above his partners on the cartel.  

Varea’s first novillo was the weakest of the string thus far. Although Varea showed able technique and an elegant aesthetic concept, the novillo prevented any attempt at a faena from taking flight. Unfortunately, the theme continued with the final bull of this long corrida. It was noble, but lacked casta. Varea sought to impose his dominant toreo on this animal, but he lacked a proper opponent. I am loathe to judge a novillero with such lacklustre bulls. All I can conclude is that he has a pleasing aesthetic and technical concept of toreo and I would welcome seeing him once again.  

Despite the uninteresting behaviour of the novillos, we were able to gain a fair view of the novilleros on the cartel. Ginés Marín performed noticeably above the level of his colleagues, but each of Espada, Terrón and Varea displayed enough virtues to make them intriguing performers; we can of course pick plenty of holes in their technique and displays but I feel focussing on the negative and ignoring the positive misses the point of assessing novilleros. There will be time to judge them on a harsher degree as their careers develop.