San Isidro 29/05/2015 – Decimosexta Corrida

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

Juan Pedro Domecq bulls for Finito de Córdoba, Alejandro Talavante and Daniel Luque.

The crowd was lucky that the first bull fell in Finito’s lot. It was a noble bull that followed the lures with its head low, but whose charge conveyed no emotion. The animal required an elegant and artistic torero to supplant the emotion that its charge lacked. Finito was able to channel the bull’s few positive qualities into an acceptable faena. It was an intermittent and long performance, underscored by Finito’s elegant toreo. The faena lacked continuity because of the bull’s condition, but with the odd elegant remate here, and some good series there, Finito constructed a pleasant curtain raiser.   

The fourth bull had all of the shortcomings of the first bull, without any of its upside. It only allowed Finito to give a couple of pleasingly elegant series before the bull’s charges expired.

Alejandro Talavante’s opener displayed a vibrant charge in the early tercios, a charge full of vigour and emotion. Talavante was able to immediately capture its qualities and gave us some remates to savour with the capote. He began the faena with no test passes, diving into toreo al natural – this is one of Talvante’s strengths, he sees the bull early in the lidia and, if he feels it is apt, does not procrastinate and sets out to torear en redondo as soon as possible. The first two series were well linked and silky, Talavante showing that he has one of the escalafón’s best left hands. The bull began to wane by the third series, this time on the right hand, although Alejandro was able to save this series with a wonderful cambio de mano and chest pass. Unfortunately, this was a sign that the bull’s charge was exhausted. It barely last another few passes. A disappointing end to a faena that had early promise.

Talavante’s performance with the capote on the fifth bull was another treat. He welcomed the animal into the arena with closed stance veronicas, concluding the recibo with some tijerillas and subsequently peppering the lidia with creative remates that looked plucked from La Lidia.  Alejandro was in inspired form, starting on his knees with linked passes with the front and reverse of the muleta. It was an attractive start that took a dramatic edge when Talavante, from nowhere, pulled off an arrucina on his knees – there was barely any space for the bull to pass, but Talavante managed it and brought the crowd to its feet. Alejandro Talavante, who can be a wonderful orthodox torero, proceeded to give us a faena that was completely unorthodox. In this respect it was similar to his excellent faena to a Cuvillo in Zaragoza a few years ago. The toreo en redondo was good: silky, well linked, and moving. However, the crowd was seduced by Talavante’s creative touches, the arrucinas interspersed among the naturales, the cambios de mano and the pase cambiado with which he capped the concluding manoletinas. An enchanting faena from an enchanting torero. A great pity that he took three entries to claim an estocada because the performance may very well have yielded two ears. Talavante has left us with a couple of memorable performances this feria, the type of performances befitting of a figura.   

As expected, Daniel Luque, left us a handful of memorable lances with the capote on his opening bull. However, the highlight of the early tercios were the two excellent pairs of banderillas placed by Abraham Neiro. This was another bull that galloped purposefully during the early part of the lidia, allowing us to dream of a faena. Luque began with estauarios and was dramatically tossed by the bull. As the bull passed him between each horn it was a miracle that Luque escaped unharmed. Back on his feet, Luque called the bull from distance and gave three good series of derechazos – the third of which was particularly low, slow and well linked. Al natural, the toreo was equally emotive; the bull stayed short on occasion, and Daniel lost the appropriate steps between each pass to allow him to continue smoothly. Aside from the nicely linked passes, the keys to the faena were the stillness and the closeness with which he worked with the bull. Daniel capped his faena was some excellent luquesinas and was heading for a triumph. I thought that his defective estocada two descabellos might have cost him the prize, but the crowd petitioned for an ear and the president granted it. The faena was very good, and might have even yielded two ears with a good sword thrust, but the sword work was so poor that I feel the reward should have been left as a vuelta al ruedo.

Luque’s wonderful capote returned in the quite to the sixth bull (a Parladé substitute), profound veronicas, concluded with a dreamily slow media – an absolute joy. Daniel was determined to finish his feria on a high note, and called the bull from the centre of the ring for the first series of derechazos, a clean and well linked series finished with an excellent trincherazo and a long chest pass. The bull’s charge was classy, with an edge of spice, it had to be taken gently through each pass and timed to perfection, if it hooked the muleta its charge would turn from class to violence. Luque’s toreo en redondo was very clean, very slow and well linked, principally based on the bull’s right side, which was the better horn. The principal problem was that from mid-faena onwards, Luque’s timing failed him, the bull hooked the cloth a couple of times and the emotion built with the early series was lost. This is the type of faena that holds Luque back from making the next step in his career. This bull was there to be cuajado, but, Daniel fell just short. He might have still cut an ear had the estocada in the centre of the ring not been preceded by a pinchazo. However, the animal called for an empahtic faena, which had not been delivered. Nevertheless, I do not want to come across as being too downbeat on Luque. His afternoon contained a great deal of good toreo with the cape and the muleta, Daniel just needs to find consistency in order to develop from the eternal promise into a figura.

San Isidro 26/05/2015 – Decimocuarta Corrida

 

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

 

Alcurrucén bulls for Morante de la Puebla, El Juli and Sebastián Castella.

Morante paid for his decision to only appear in a single corrida this San Isidro with a poor lot of Alcurrucén bulls. The opening animal was a beautiful burraco. It gave acceptable single charges, Morante did not look to stay still and link – the animal was unlikely to yield a repetitive charge and Morante was not going to risk finding out. Morante's second opponent was flat. He gave a couple of flaps of the muleta and headed for the sword. While the crowd jeered this decision, I applauded it – corridas are too long because toreros lack a sense of measure. If the bull is not up to a faena, the matador should take the sword as soon as possible, if not we are left with the type of long and inane faena we regularly endure.

Although, in light of the bulls he faced, we can find little fault in Morante’s afternoon, I must be critical of his current MO. A torero of Morante's stature should be one of the pillars of San Isidro, not a footnote. The pages of taurine history are written in Las Ventas and Sevilla, not the provinces. The provinces are the lifeblood of the temporada, yes, but triumphs in the principal rings mark a torero’s path. As such, the figuras should be appearing several times in each of Sevilla and Las Ventas and the impresarios of each plaza must  have the wherewithal to ensure that thisis the case.

 

Rant over, I turn my attention to El Juli. The planning for his feria gets a pass, barely, for choosing to appear in a mano a mano with Perera. It would be better for Julián to be on three cartels, but at least he is facing five bulls. Unfortunately, none of his two animals this afternoon gave him the chance to triumph. He tried to impose his low, slow and long concept to his first bull, but it lacked the vigour to accept this demanding toreo. It was a noble animal, but lacked the motor to allow El Juli to fully express himself.

 

El Juli’s toreo de capote to the fifth bull was an exercise in determination. He was determined to torear a la veronica as soon as the bull entered the ring, and would not accept that the bull was disinterested. It was a cold, Nuñez type entry, so El Juli waited in the centre of the ring and the bul explored its new surroundings. Eventually, the bull came round and he was able to give some very low veronicas – El Juli’s concept of toreo is all about taking the bull as low as possible. His opening veronicas today showed this perfectly and his quite by veronicas further explored this aim. El Juli completed his intervention with the capote through a series of lovely gaoneras a compass abierto. Castella replied with some still saltilleras – a lively quite rivalry for the crowd to enjoy. The bull was classy but weak. El Juli was hopeful that his precise timing would be able to give the bull the strength its legs lacked, and he did manage some very low and slow series of derechazos. His delicate muleta and smooth technique kept the bull on its feet and charging with class. The crowd was, however, dismissive in light of the bull’s lack of motor. Ultimately they were correct. The animal lost most of its verve after the initial couple of series en redondo. El Juli tried to lift the faena with an arrimón, but there was little more he could do. Like Perera, Julián heads into next Tuesday’s mano a mano needing to stamp his authority on the feria.

 

Castella greeted his first bull with a lovely series of veronicas – low, smooth and well-linked, capped by an emphatically silky media veronica. He also worked a couple of even slower veronicas into an attractive quite. Thus far the bull had shown to be classy. Morante saw this too and gave us three inconsistent veronicas (two were excellent, the third, untidy) and a beautiful larga. Castella waited for the bull in the centre of the ring (he had to wait, briefly, for the bull to chase his banderillas, like a puppy chasing its tail) to give it his characerista passes cambiados. The series was simply sensational – eleven passes, cambiados, de pecho, trincherazos, molinetes, all sorts, tightly worked and seamlessly linked. The toreo fundamental that followed was supreme. Castella’s toreo en redondo has taken a qualitative step up over the past year, today was further confirmation of this. The naturales were better than the derechazos, but all of the series were full of long passes, perfectly timed, excellently linked and long. It is comparitatively easy to link three passes and then give a chest pass, it is much harder to go beyond this and carry on performing passes as the bull’s path winds tighter towards the torero’s body. However, this is where the true emotion of toreo en redondo lies, layering passes, and layering the emotion over a whole series. Castella’s faena was a lesson in this. As he reached the end of the faena, I thought he might conclude with an arrimón. I was wrong. His left handed doblones to cap the faena were profound and the perfect bow on his superlative faena.

 

The full estocada was desprendida, which caused some to protest the concession of the second ear, I thought that the faena thoroughly deserved the Puerta Grande. Today was Castella’s signature faena in Madrid, far better than the 2007 performance that opened the famous gate for him for the first time. In 2007 Castella was the in-form figura, by 2015 his star has faded slightly; however, if he can continue to produce this type of faena, he will be perfectly able to rival the likes of El Juli and Perera. The bull was given a fully merited vuelta al ruedo.

 

The sixth bull showed few signs of bravery of class in the opening tercios. It was therefore surprising to see Castella begin the faena sat on the boards – although, this merely served to show the clarity of mind with which Castella is currently toreando. The first couple of series were clean and, gave me hope that Castella might be able to craft a faena from this bull. This was a mirage, the animal soon gave up the ghost and we were left with the enduring memory of his wonderful first faena.

 

The Alcurrucén bulls were a disappointment, but the dignity of the divisa was saved by the wonderful third bull. It was the type of bull that fills a corrida on its own. Its five brothers may have been dull, but we will remember brave Jabatito for a long time.  

San Isidro 26/5/2015 - Decimotercera Corrida

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

El Puerto San Lorenzo bulls for Antonio Ferrera, Miguel Abellán and Daniel Luque.

Today’s cartel consisted of veteran toreo, all of whom are capable of good faenas, but none of whom had quite made it to figura status. Antonio Ferrera is looking to build on his Sevilla triumph. He is unlikely to meet a bull as good as Sevilla’s Victorino, but we would like to see the serious and controlled Ferrera, not the rapid, populist toreo that we have often been served. Miguel Abellán completes his feria today, he is carving an autumn for his career on the basis of his capable muleta work, but he needs a triumphant performance to  create momentum this season. Luque starts his feria today. I have always had high hopes for Daniel but he always falls just short of achieving them. Whatever happens, I am almost prepared to guarantee that he will regale us with some excellent capote work at some point in the afternoon.  

Antonio Ferrera placed banderillas to his opening bull in a clean and sober manner. Three controlled, orthodox pairs of banderillas placed across different areas of the plaza for variety. The bull was noble, although its charge lacked vigour and emotion. Ferrera gave a couple of acceptable, clean series en redondo. However, the faena did not ignite the crowd in the slightest; the bull’s charge did not lend itself to emotive toreo. Ferrera cut his faena as soon as he had showed the bull to the crowd and once it was clear that it was pointless persevering with the animal. I applaud his sense of good measure.

The fourth bull charge more powerfully in banderillas giving Ferrera the opportunity to place tighter, more emotive pairs. The third pair, al quiebro, fell somewhat low. The bull lowered its head to the lures with desire but would stay short; it was a tough customer that seemed to weigh the option of taking the lure or the man with each charge. Ferrera performed a long faena which, necessarily, contained some indivudial good, long and dominant passes. Nevertheless, Ferrera could not channel the bull’s difficulties into a complete faena. Antonio’s afternoon was subdued, but his lot did not offer an opportunity for more.  

Abellán’s profound doblones to start his faena de muleta to the second bull served to highlight the class and depth of the bull’s charge – however, the animal did not display great emotion in its charge. Its quality allowed for good toreo, however, the emotion had to be created by the torero. Abellán performed a long and clean faena, giving well linked series with either hand. However, the bull required a level of repose that was not to be found in Abellán’s toreo. He was correct throughout, but the bull was asking to be toreado with greater emotion. The highlight of the faena was the concluding series of naturales a pies juntos, each isolated pass was profound but, because of the nature of the pass, the consecutive muletazos lacked continuity.  The full estocada allowed Miguel to receive an ovation from the tercio. Abellán is a powerful, blood and thunder torero, a delicate bull is perhaps not the most suited to his tauromaquia.

The fifth bull was a lacklustre animal that lent itself to a lacklustre faena. Perhaps another day Abellán might have risked between each pass, left the muleta in the bull’s face in an attempt to link a complete series. However, Miguel was unable to do so and the faena dissipated into nothing. This caps Miguel’s underwhelming Feria de San Isidro. He cut an ear from his first bull of the feria, but since he has faced bulls that might have allowed for more emphatic performances than those which he ultimately delivered.

Daniel Luque had left his calling card with a quite to the second bull. I will not get tired of highlighting his excellence with the capote – after Morante, Luque is the escalafón’s best capotero. Today, he gave us three delicate, silky chicuelinas, capped with a cambio de mano and a low larga that was pure delight. The third bull was a typical Atanasio manso – a loose, noble bull, which had the class to allow for good toreo if only the torero could keep it focussed on the lures. Luque’s faena started with a good, well-linked series of derechazos in the centre of the ring. A profound series, concluded with a long chest pass that allowed the crowd to dream of a good faena. However, the bull immediately became rajado. Although Luque was able to link the odd few passes, the bull was not concentrated on the muleta at all and it spent the rest of the faena seeking is querencia. Luque followed it around the ring, giving isolated quality passes. His sword work was very poor and he therefore exchanged an ovation for some jeers.

The sixth Puerto San Lorenzo bull was returned to the pens for its manifest weakness, I cannot help but think that the crowd’s protests were also a symptom of them being bored after two hours and little toreo. It was replaced by a José Luís Pereda bull, of Nuñez origin that displayed mansedumbre, lack of class and lack of desire over the first two tercios. When it was minded to charge, however, it did so with power, which Abraham Neiro was able to temper into two risky and tight pairs of banderillas.

Luque seemed to have confidence that he could exploit the bull’s emotion (and minimise its difficulties) and dedicated the faena to the public. Daniel dove straight into toreo fundamental in the centre of the ring, with no tester passes, and gave a superficial, but nicely linked series of derechazos. He gave the bull distance, and let the bull charge at the muleta; guiding the bull rather than dominating. As the faena progressed, Daniel sought to impose demanding toreo to the bull – the subsequent series were low and well timed, with the torero teasing the bull though the pass. The bull lost intensity in its charge after three series, so Daniel took the bull to the tercio with a succession of nicely worked low passes naturales and cambiados. He took the bull back out to the centre of the ring for a series of naturales, bu by this stage the bull was tardy and the faena was over. He tried to complete with an arrimón, but the faena was done. Luque’s faena started with intensity, but lost emotion as it progressed. His excellent estocada led to a not insignificant petition; it perhaps needed the faena to be more consistent in order to have led to a prize. Daniel was left to give a merited vuelta al ruedo. Luque’s afternoon was solid, he was above the level of both his bulls, but, once again, fell just short of giving us the emphatic performance his career needs.

 

San Isidro 25/05/2015 - Tercera Novillada

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

El Montecillo Novillos for David Martín Escudero, Francisco José Espada and Joaquín Galdós.

The final novillada offered another pleasing trio of prospects. Martín Escudero gave us a glimmer of his toreo in Valdemorillo, and is making his tardy presentation in Madrid ahead of his forthcoming alternativa (he was due to appear last San Isidro, but a late injury prevented him from doing so). Franciso José Espada still has our confidence given he excellent performance last year, however, he has flattered to deceive in his previous outings this season – let us hope he can resume his upward curve. Joaquín Galdós carries with him the hopes of Peru. His countryman Roca Rey left a very good impression last week, it would be good news if we could add another American torero to the list of young hopefuls for the European season.

The three novilleros are facing a corrida from El Montecillo (supplemented with a couple of bulls from the Rufino Martín ranch), managed by Paco Medina. The reader might remember that Paco Medina was the ganadero that put El Ventorillo among the leading ganaderías; he is on the road to do the same with El Montecillo.

The opening novillo charged reticently, and when it did, would do so powerfully, with nerve. It was difficult to dominate such a charge. Nevertheless, Martín started his faena with firm estatuarios, he stood still as the animal charged like a train. Tragically, Martín continued to remain impassive as he attempted to link a series naturales and the novillo went straight at him. The novilleros head smashed against the sand and he was left unconscious. A heavy price to pay. Martín Escudero had only shown flashes of his dry valour, I would very much welcome to see him again.

We only had to wait until the second novillo for day’s token porta gayola; Espada lost his cape during the ensuing larga cambiada, but his opening series of veronicas was clean and acceptable. The novillo reached the muleta with a noble and malleable charge. Espada began with estatuarios, which did not suit the bull’s calm charge. The faena improved when Francisco José set to torear en redondo. Although the novillo’s charge did not transmit great emotion, Espada was able to perform three clean and well linked series on the right side. As the novillo’s charge weakened, he structured his faena around isolated passes on either charge and concluded with pleasing figure of eight toreo. The faena was capped with a series of closely worked manoletinas and a full estocada that necessitated the descabello to complete the task. Notwithstanding, it had been a very solid performance by Espada, certainly the best we have seen from him this season.

Joaquín Valdós’ afternoon had barely began when he was tossed by the third novillo during the recibo capotero. The voltereta left him inert and unconscious – a terrible sight. 

Espada was therefore left to complete the novillada single handed. The third animal had little class with a hesitant and ungainly charge. Espada tried to extract single passes from the animal, while working it at a prudent distance from his body. He was loathe to keep the muelta in its face to provoke a repetitive charge and opted to have the the muleta held back and readjust his position after each isolated muletazo. Once Espada had shown his opponent's difficulties, he took the sword.

To show the determination with which he was going to proceed, Francisco José Espada once again headed to the puerta de chiqueros to meet the fourth novillo – the larga cambiada was clean, but the novillo did not allow for a subsequent series of veronicas. The animal was a nervy manso, that charged with strength at Espada’s muleta. Francisco José correctly opened his faena with doblones, successfully channelling the bull’s charge, creating emotive passes. The first couple of series of derechazos were well linked and used the bull’s exciting charge. As this waned, Espada took the left hand, his forte. Although there was less ligazón, the toreo still flowed pleasingly and some of the single naturales were excellent. He structured the faena towards a crescendo and was awarded an ear despite the pinchazo that preceded the estocada.   

The fifth novillo initially had a short and sticky charge. Espada tried to dominate it en redondo with some early right hand series, but was unable to fully control and link his toreo. As the faena progressed, Espada was able to tease longer charges from it and exert greater dominance over the animal. The highlight of the faena was beautifully executed series of naturales, long and silky, if Espada develops into a torero de ferias, it will be on the back of his dreamy left hand. Once dominated on the left side, the bull as completely submitted to Espada’s muleta. He therefore completed his faena was clean and emphatic muletazos with either hand, alternating passes naturales and cambiados. He would have certainly cut an ear had the sword not been low, the petition was certainly in the majority, but it was refused by the president.

Espada headed to the centre of the ring at the start of his final faena – he called the novillo from distance and completed a low and well linked series of derechazos. The emphatic toreo continued with another series on the right side, a chain of stirring passes, culminating in an excellent cambio de mano. Espada continued to take advantage of the animal’s right horn with consecutive profound and stirring tandas. The novillo was difficult on the left side and Espada was unable to extract any passes of note on this side. Although his opponent was fading, Francisco José was able to conclude the faena on a high note, with more pleasing toreo fundamental on the right side and an exciting arrimón that cost him a voltereta – Espada knew that the Puerta Grande was in his grasp and bravely risked to obtain his target. It is a pity that his sword work was poor, once again, because this no doubt cost him another ear.  

While Francisco José Espada will no doubt be ruing that the sword cost him a more significant triumph, the importance of the afternoon showing that, notwithstanding his early season missteps, he continues to be a significant prospect.  

 

San Isidro 24/05/2015 – Duodécima Corrida

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

Las Ramblas Bulls for David Galván, Victor Barrio and Alberto López Simón

This cartel was perhaps my dark horse for San Isidro. San Isidro’s Sunday cartels are generally the weakest of the week (if one was being cynical, one might suggest that the empresa knows that some people can only attend at the weekend and therefore “forces” them to attend the flimsiest bills), this is a thoroughly intriguing cartel. It may be because of my afición, but I would much rather see three young, determined toreros over a trio of veterans who may have built a career, but have little left to say in toreo.  

David Galván was active with the capote throughout the early tercios of the first bull. He started with pleasing low veronicas, the highlight of which was the media, and continued with a slow quite by gaoneras. The bull displayed excellent class and this was used by Victor Barrio in another quite de frente por detras. The worry at this stage was whether the animal would have the vigour to withstand the lidia. Galván opened the faena with a pedresina, an attractive start, but the bull lacked the motor to make it truly emotive. The faena was superficially attractive, but lacked the depth created by a bull with an emotive charge. David's toreo en redondo was clean with either hand with isolated passes of a high quality. However, the bull was not repetitive and it is hard to create emotion in a faena without linking passes. Galván concluded with some tight manoletinas, which cost him a voltereta and a good full estocada. A solid, if unspectacular, performance.

David’s second bull was a tough opponent – it was nervy, difficult and ultimately manso. The young torero was unable to dominate the bull and, although he spent a long time with it (the first aviso sounded before he entered for the first estocada) he was unable to extract anything of note. The faena was too long, the bull was unlikely to yield the quality charges needed for a faena but David persisted. The animal finished completely rajado and difficult to enter for an estocada. Galván lost control of proceedings at this stage, feeling that the avisos were forthcoming, he opted for a descabello after a few pinchazos. Thankfully, he was able to finish his work in time. David Galván is a promising young torero, but he needs a signature performance soon if he is to build on this promise and become a torero that we can count on for the ferias. Given the number of second tier toreros that have performed well this San Isidro, one cannot help but feel that David has fallen a couple of steps down the escalafón’s pecking order.   

This feria might be known as the San Isidro of the porta gayolas – every afternoon it seems that one or more of the toreros heads to the puerta de chiqueros. Victor Barrio was this afternoon’s torero, although, uniquely, he greeted the bull with a veronica a pies juntos in the centre of the ring.  The lance on his knees would need to wait until the horses were in the ring; in another original nod, Victor Barrio began his quite with a farol on his knees and a series of chicuelinas. Toreo should be spontaneity, and this fresh quite made me smile. Barrio took to his knees again to start his faena de muleta in the centre of the ring. The bull was noble and repetitive, but Barrio was unable to domineer its charge correctly to create emotive toreo. There were too many enganchones and rough passes. As the faena developed we never had the sense that he was building towards a crescendo. He gave passes, completed series, but his work lacked a message. It is a pity. I had enjoyed his bright cape work and have previously seen him perform good, powerful toreo en redondo – today, unfortunately, the bull had got away from him.

Victor Barrio’s performance with the fifth bull followed a similar script. He was active with the capote, I particularly enjoyed his galleo by rogerinas, a pass that we do not often see, but that adds variety to the first tercio. Victor began the faena with passes cambiados in the centre of the ring, passing the bull exceedingly close (which is fundamental to convey emotion with this pass). He gave the bull space to charge in his first tanda de derechazos but the bull charge was too short to allow Barrio to complete a series. The short charge, and the bull’s lack of stamina negatively marked the faena. Victor tried to fashion a faena, but he was unable to overcome the bull’s problems. It was not the afternoon I would have hoped for Victor Barrio, but he showed enough creativity and desire for me to continue to believe that he is a torero to be counted upon. He is a torero whose account is very much still in the black.

The third bull had an edge of mansedumbre, but would follow the muleta with class. López Simón began with a series of low passes naturales and cambiados that served to focus the bull and ignite the crowd. The animal’s charge also had an edge of nerve, which Alberto was able to channel into two well linked and emotive series of derechazos; the highlight of which were a couple of curvy chest passes. The bull lacked the stamina to allow for a long and profound faena, however López Simón managed to perform clean toreo en redondo with either hand. The key to the faena was linking, he was able to build upon the emotion of a single pass with the following thereby constructing a stirring performance. He finished on a high note with some ayudados por alto. A full estocada, during which he suffered a pitonazo to his abdomen, allowed him to cut an ear. This was Alberto’s third bull this spring in Las Ventas and his third ear.

López Simón completed his triumphant afternoon by extracting a faena from an almost immobile sixth bull. Alberto started his faena in a similar emphatic style to the first, low passes naturales and cambiados, controlling the bull to the centre of the ring to begin with toreo fundamental. While we often see faenas started with stoic high estatuarios, what really moves the crowd is toreo por bajo – the estatuarios may have an edge of excitement, but truly profound toreo is worked down low. The bull was reticent to charge and, when it did so, followed the lure with little class or desire. López Simón therefore based his faena on a firm, decisive attitude to extract what he could from the animal, and working close to its horns. While he did manage the odd well linked series, most of the faena carried the emotion of the arrimón. He concluded the performance with tight manoletinas, which were concluded with another low pass. The crowd was thoroughly taken with Alberto and the pinchazo that preceded the full, well-executed and effective estocada proved no obstacle to the president granting the ear. López Simón has completed his spring performances in Madrid with four ears, and more importantly, by showcasing a decisive, attractive toreo; a pity that these triumphs do not seem to count for much in today’s mundillo.

San Isidro 22/05/2015 – Undécima Corrida

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

El Pilar bulls for Juan José Padilla, José María Manzanares and Miguel Ángel Perera.

This is arguably the star cartel of the feria and , as such, one of the first corridas to sell out. Juan José Padilla is appearing as warm up act. I understand that the figuras have always asked for “uno por delante”, but it does not make it any less frustrating for the aficionado. With all due respect, I am not looking forward to seeing Padilla today – I greatly value his tauromaquia and respect his career path. In the correct context, I also enjoy his toreo. However, Las Ventas is not the ideal place to enjoy the Padilla show, he sobers and dilutes his toreo to little effect.

Manzanares knows that the certain sections of Madrid’s crowd do not like him, and the usual suspects will no doubt jeer his performance. He has therefore taken the conservative decision to only appear once – it is a pity. The premier feria should be the showcase for the cream of the escalafón (like or dislike his toreo, Manzanares is an undoubtedly a leading torero), while also giving lesser profile toreros an opportunity that is not afforded to them in the shorter provincial ferias. For some years the balance between the former and the latter has tilted too far in favour of the latter; Manzanares’ decision compounds this imbalance (Morante and Ponce are another two toreros who should have opted to play a greater part in this feria).

 Perera is making his second appearance of San Isidro. Last season's triumphant torero, he is one of the cornerstones of this year’s feria – as it should be, he is a figura and must validate this status in Las Ventas (he, like the rest of the G4, should have also validated themselves in Sevilla, but that is another story). His first corrida was a disappointment, with Perera being greatly affected by the strong wind, however, he gave the impression of being slightly below the level required of his lot of Parladés. Let us hope he can remedy this today.

As is customary in him, Padilla was active in the early tercios with his first bull. An attempted quite by tafalleras ended with an untidy enganche and with the banderillas Padilla was correct and dominant over the bull’s powerful charge. With the muleta, Padilla seemingly suffocated the bull’s vivacity by undertaking the faena at a short distance. His faena highlighted the bull’s nobility, but also its lacke of vigour. Perhaps, by giving it more distance to charge he might have been able to use the animal's momentum to craft a series of muletazos.  The faena ended with an unsavoury series of media estocadas and descabellos.

Padilla gave his second bull distance, but unfortunately it did not have the strength to withstand toreo en redondo. Slightly better timing might have helped it stay on its feet, but Padilla is not known for precise, calm and templado toreo. He did not palce banderillas to this bull, perhaps an indication that he is not entirely confortable in Madrid – Padilla needs give free rein to his tremendista streak, and I feel he never completely abandons himself to this toreo in Madrid.

The second El Pilar bull broke a horn during the pics and was replaced by a Charo de Llen animal - rumour has it that the bull had been selected by Perera's team. Manzanares began the lidia with four tight and stirring veronicas, Manzanares successfully working with the bull's nervy and  uncomfortable charge. With the muleta Manzanares constructed a pleasing faena based on the right side, there was the token series on the left - naturales are not José Mari’s forte and he rarely gives us more than the odd series on the left side. The bull had an ungainly charge, but it was mobile and followed the lures. Manzanares gave the bull distance for the first pass of the series and used the bull’s movement to sew together another three derechazos. It was a typical Manzanares faena and, as such, split the crowd, just as he splits opinion. In his favour is always his elegant manner and the ease with which he can link passes with the right hand. Against him, the short series and the superficial nature of his toreo. The faena was pleasant but I felt he could have been more emphatic with the bull. Uncharacteristically, for him, Manzanres was poor with the sword.

Manzanares also greeted his second bull into the ring with some pleasing, if inconsistent, veronicas. The faena began with a scare; Manzanares mistimed an estatuario and the bull went for the man rather than the cloth. The bull was noble and classy, but lacked some motor. José Mari began with a couple of clean series on the right side, but the animal seemed to be running out of gas. On the left side Manzanares managed to lift the faena once again, it may not be his strong point, but the second series al natural was made of long, clean passes and nicely linked. The rest of the faena was built on more clean, elegant toreo en redondo, greeted with oles from most of the crowd. The effective estocada served to secure the first, and only, ear of the afternoon.

Perera faced a dull lot of bulls. His first bull was classless and lacking in emotion. Its charge was listless and languid, Perera gave some slow passes, but the bull conveyed not vigour. A putrid animal that, to make matters worse, was also tricky and difficult. It gave Miguel Ángel no opportunity whatsoever to torear well. His final bull was not much better. Perera’s afternoon passed without anything of note. After his absence from Sevilla, he needs to lay a marker in his last corrida of the feria, a mano a mano with El Juli for the Corrida de Beneficencia.

 

 

Madrird 20/05/2015 – Corrida de la Prensa

 

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

Jandilla and Vegahermosa Bulls for Miguel Abellán, El Fandi and Manuel Escribano.

The traditional Corrida de la Prensa attracted a solid, but second tier, cartel. Miguel Abellán is making his second appearance in the feria. He gave a good account of himself on Friday, despite earning the censure of the infamous tendido siete. El Fandi brings his unique view of la tauromaquia to Las Ventas; in an era where many toreros seem to be replicas of each other, his fresh take on lidia total is to be welcome. He is not one of the names that I look for in a feria, but he is a necessary part of la fiesta and has a strong core of supporters. Escribano gave a solid account of himself facing a couple of tough ranches in Sevilla, it will be interesting to assess his performance with Domecq cattle, can he mould his tauromaquia to this type of bull or is he destine to base his career around the corridas duras.

Miguel Abellán made his third trip to the puerta de chiqueros and met his first bull with a cleanly executed larga cambiada de rodillas a porta gayola. The early veronicas were smooth but lacked continuity due to the bull’s lack of focus. The bull had a vibrant charge, especially on the right side, but was hampered by limited strength. The faena was inconsistent, Miguel managed a very good series with the right hand and the odd god pass, but ultimately his performance came to nothing. The faena lacked focus and structure, partly due to the bull’s condition, and also because of the wind the odd protests from certain sectors of the crowd, and fundamentally, Abellán’s inability to overcome these problems.

Abellán returned to the puerta de chiqueros in the fourth bull. Alhough suertes a porta gayola are brief, and sometimes receive an almost dismissive reaction from the crowd, we should not forget the mental fortitude it must take to wait, submissively, on one’s knees for a bull to come out of the pen with the aim of controlling its charge with a larga cambiada. Miguel gave another clean larga, and followed this with another larga on his knees and pleasing veronica work once on his feet. His media a pies juntos was particularly good. The good capework continued during the quite, a couple of chicuelinas and a bright larga – Abellán was, thus far, giving a full and attractive lidia. The bull had an emotive and nervy charge, but would lose its footing it the torero lowered the hand at the wrong moment. It took Miguel a couple of series to get the timing and technique right, but once he understood the bull he gave four deeply emotive series of derechazos, keeping the cloth in the bull’s face between each pass, staying still to be able to link, and taking the bull through each pass without it touching the cloth. He gave each chest pass when forced to do so, as it should be. By the time he took the left hand, the bull was exhausted and he opted to give a couple of isolated naturales, combined was some passes with the reverse of the muleta to prepare the bull for the estocada. The effective media estocada cooled the crowd and yielded only a minority petition; it seems that the most important aspect of an estocada in 2015 is whether it’s a full sword or not.   

El Fandi’s show during the second bull followed the familiar script. I could have written before the corrida that he would welcome the bull with a larga cambiada in the tercio and that, once on his feet, his veronica is surprisingly silky, low and slow. As usual, he was active with the capote during the pics, taking the bull to the horse with a galleo and performing an incomplete quite by chicuelinas, for those attentive to the details, he gives a creative recorte to leave the bull placed at the horse. With the banderillas his is supremely dominant. His first two orthodox pairs were placed with consulate ease, with El Fandi working the toro across all terrains a cuerpo limpio. His closing pair al violin, given on the inside, left the crowd on his feet. The bull had a classy gallop, but lacked strength. It needed a smooth touch, rather than El Fandi’s rough muleta. He was in control of the bull because he knows his craft, but his muleta lacks soul. Sword in hand, David was typically effective.

David’s performance with the fifth bull fitter a similar pattern. There were the odd variations, such as the two in one pair of banderillas that concluded the tercio or the kneeling meuletazos with which he began the faena de muleta. Fundamentally, bull was dull an dour and did not allow for a faena of note. I was therefore left to ponder El Fandi’s afternoon as a whole. He has his critics among the afición, and is certainly not one of my preferred toreros, however, the consistency with which he performs is admirable and is valued by the general public. The bright parts of El Fandi’s afternoon were characteristic of his overall concept of tauromaquia and their place in the fiesta is not to be scoffed at. In a spectacle as wildly inconsistent as los toros, El Fandi’s ability to deliver his product on a daily basis is something to be admired and a quality that is greatly appreciated by those who enjoy his toreo.

Escribano’s work with the banderillas to the third bull highlighted El Fandi’s mastery over this suerte. Manuel placed a couple of acceptable passes de poder a poder and concluded with a quiebro calling the bull while sat on the estribo that enchanted the crowd – he interspersed this with the odd runand recorte with the bull. However, it all looked like hard work, compared to the ease with which El Fandi played with the bull. With the muleta he was in control, but his work lacked feeling.

With the sixth bull, Escribano was active with the capote in the early tercios. Manuel aimed to please with the banderillas and, while exciting, the tercio was slightly untidy. The bull reached the muleta with a limited charge, it moved, came and went, but charged with little desire. Manuel was technically correct and managed to control the animal and gave some good isolated passes. The faena lacked a signature, intense and emotive series en redondo, but Escribano peppered his work with some passes cambiados and manoletinas to excite the crowd. He gave a very effective estocada in the centre of the ring that triggered a minority petition for an ear. Escribano continues to develop and present his brand of jovial and attractive toreo, I think he is a torero who could offer a good spectacle in the provinces; now if only the mundillo taurine began to offer a variety of names in the summer ferias rather than the tired names that we are all used to seeing (this is not meant as a slight against the figuras, they rightly deserve their place in the fiesta, I am thinking of the repetitive string of second level that have populated the ferias for years).  

 

 

San Isidro 18/05/2014 - Segunda novillada

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

Conde de Mayalde Novillos for Posada de Maravillas, Clemente and Andrés Roca Rey.

A greatly promising international novillada. Posada has happily recovered from his serious hand injury and, in Olivenza, given us one of the season’s most delicious faenas. His elegant manner is always welcome, we need to hope that his technique develops at sufficient pace to allow him to express it on a regular basis, taurine history is littered with classy and artisitic toreros who lacked the technical wherewithal and bravery to perform such toreo on a regular basis. Clemente is one of France’s leading novilleros, I have not previously been able to see him and I look forward to this opportunity to do so. Roca Rey is a young Peruvian torero that has based his career in Europe and recently exited Las Ventas on shoulders. He comes with excellent credentials, it would be very welcome for an American torero to establish himself as a leading torero in Europe.,Roca Rey is one of the continent’s best hopes (incidentally, another promising Peruvian torero, Joaquín Valdós, performs next Monday).     

Posada’s opening novillo was noble, but sickly sweet. It compliantly followed the lure, while lacking the strength and nerve necessary to transmit danger and emotion. Posada was able to execute a number of aesthetically pleasing isolated derechazos, but the novillo lacked the charge to allow him to construct a complete faena. It was pleasing to see the torero in control of the animal throughout the faena, but the ultimate result left us cold – there was no other ending possible given the animal’s limitations. The torero wisely cut the faena short, a number of matadores could learn from this sense of measure.

Posada’s second opponent gave him a serious looking voltereta during the pics third, but this was not enough to take the smile of the young man’s face. The faena started in the centre of the ring with a cartucho de pescado followed by a well linked series of naturales, with the torero gaining steps between each pass to stay in the correct position for the next pass. The novillo was extremely classy, with its lack of vivacity not preventing it from charging with desire. The fanea itself was short and intense, only a couple of short series with each hand marked by Posada’s silky and dreamy toreo fundamental. His effective estocada allowed him to cut a deserved ear. 

The second novillo did not display promising signs upon entry into the ring, charging short and rough at Clemente’s capote. Andrés Roca Rey left his calling card with a wonderfully lucid quite by tafalleras, capped with a saltillera and a revolera – a bright and controlled quite that showcased an understanding of the novillo’s charge and a calm sense of occasion. Clemente responded with a rapid, less controlled, but tight and emotive quite by chicuelinas. Clemente sought to temper the animal’s charge with his early doblones and it seemed that the animal might have a strong charge that could be moulded into a faena. Sadly it was not to be. Although the novillo showed flashes of nerve, it ended having a short choppy charge that Clemente was unable to craft into any passes of note. With the sword, he concluded with a horrid estocada trasera and tendida, followed by a series of pinchazos, a media and descabellos.

Clemente’s performance with the fifth novillo was disconcerting. It is true that the bull lacked class, desire and bravery. However, Clemente lacked the wherewithal to exert his dominance over the bull. He gave the odd isolated clean pass, but this was at the expense of unnecessarily extending the length of the faena once it was clear that it would ot yield a successful performance. No doubt this had been a disconcerting outing for Clemente, his lot was poor, but he did not display the capacity to overcome its problems. I am loathe to judge or dismiss a promising novilleros chances on the back of one afternoon, let us therefore wait until we have a further chance to assess his toreo.

Roca Rey’s recibo to the third novillo was unorthodox and brilliant, a measured series of gaoneras that showcased, once again, the ease with which Roca Rey performs toreo shone. Posada exploited the novillo’s class with a slow and profound quite by veronicas, to which Andrés replied with silky chicuelinas, intertwined with tafalleras and capped with a larga to savour. Roca Rey took the novillo to the centre of the ring and began his faena on the left side without any tester passes. The animal lasted two series of derechazos before giving up the ghost. Andrés displayed the same confidence and assuredness with the mulet as he had previously shown with the capote, managing two well linked and precise series. It is a pity that his novillo’s lack of stamina prevented him from completing his faena.

The final novillo of the afternoon was a difficult opponent. Its charge lacked class but was demanding. Roca Rey once again showed his understanding of bulls and ability to control the screen. Notwithstanding the animal's problems, Roca Rey gave him a long faena, extracting meaningful and emotive passes. The overwhelming impression I had of Roca Rey was control. He was not at the mercy of the novillos, but rather their master. Of course, Andres has the logical lacunae of a novillero, more importantly, he carries himself like a young man that could build a career.

San Isidro 14/05/2015 - Sexta Corrida

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

Salvador Domecq Bulls for Uceda Leal, Diego Silveti & Jímenez Fórtes.

A listless Fidel San Román bull opened the corrida. With such an opponenet, Uceda Leal was able to do little more that justify his efforts with the muleta and take the sword. Moreoever, a wicked gale was blowing over Las Ventas, making efforts to lure the bull to the muleta all the more difficult. We were, however, able to enjoy Uceda’s wonderful estocada. He stood close to the bull, presented the muleta low towards its nose and gave a slow, full estocada.

The fourth bull was absolutely graceless. An entirely lacklustre animal whose problems were caused by a lack of desire to charge, rather than, as we always hope, by an excess of bravery and nerve. Uceda Leal has the technical founding to acquit himself well, he was in control throughout  the lidia, unfortunately, said lidia was completely unattractive. For once, Uceda was ineffective with the sword and descablleo. Uceda has crafted a long career on the basis of an elegant manner and an excellent sword, however I wonder the remaining shelf life for this torero.

The second bull, along with the rest of the corrida, was from the title ranch, Salvador Domecq. The bull’s charge lacked grace and although Silveti gave a number of series en redondo none of them ignited the crowd. Silveri performed slightly better with. the left than the right, but also got caught a couple of times by the bull due to mistiming the muletazos. It was ultimately an insubstantial faena to a mediocre bull.

The fifth bull followed a similar. Silveti was calm and controlled with the bull, but he was unable to create any work of note thus completing Silveti's disappointing outing. An opportunity to torear in Las Ventas is all well and good, however, if it to be a truly meaningful staging post in Silveti’s career development, he had to take advantage of the opportunity and deliver a solid performance. The way the fiesta is orgnanised, he might be able to parlay family connections into further chances, however, on today’s showing, such further opportunities will not be for strictly taurine motives.

Jímenez Fórtes welcomed the third bull into the arena with a larga cambiada de rodillas a porta gayola – the larga was cleanly executed and the good work with the cape followed as he took the bull toreado from the tercio to the centre of the ring. The bull was tricky: it had a short short charge, it took the muelta better low down than high and it would chop at the muleta – to add to the difficulties, the wind continued to swirl around the ring. Fórtes was decisive, he began with estatuarios, and quickly concluded the series por bajo after the bull protested the high passes. The faena es redondo was based around two well linked series with either hand. They key to Fórtes’ success was the valour to stay still and remain in the precise terrain to provoke the bull for the next charge. Given the bull’s problems, the series were not clean, but Jímenez displayed pleasing technical nuances that allowed him to form the faena. He concluded with some chilling bernadinas, they were tight, given in the middle of the ring and incorporating a unique cambio – a very emotive conclusion, that preceded a full estocada. Jímenez was awarded an ear for his work, earned by his valour.  

Tragedy struck with the final bull of the afternoon. Jímenez was beginning his second series of derechazos when the bull tossed him and, once on the ground, sunk its horn just below the young torero’s jaw. The sight of a visibly injured Fórtes being carried to the infirmary bleeding from the neck was chilling. Thankfully, the horn did not sever any major arteries and as I write Fórtes is recovering well.

Fórtes has shown that his toreo, based on stillness and valour, has a place in the fiesta and he deserves space in the ferias that have capacity for him. However, despite his youth, he has been greatly punished by the bulls. Notwithstanding his Spartan bravery, I wonder how long he will find the spirit to keep of dressing the suit of lights, to stay still and to continue suffering gorings; his technique will need to develop so as to combine his brave concept with a certain sense of self preservation.