Thursday 17 March 2016

Feria de Fallas 16/03/2016 – Corrida – Capea


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

Capea bulls for El Soro, Jesus Duque & Román

Today was the turn of the token locals corrida. Opening the cartel was the veteran El Soro who is riding the coat tails of his emotive success in this feria last year. Despite his 2015 performance, I was wondering whether his undoubted spirit would be enough to triumph over his surgery ravaged knees again. I have only seen Jesus Duque on the day of his alternativa. He wasted an excellent Victoriano del Rio bull, but nonetheless awarded two ears. I would be lying if I said I was looking forward to seeing him again. Román had his moments as a novillero, and is returning to the rings after a year hiatus. It will be interesting to gauge his form.

El Capea is used to sending his murube bulls to corridas de rejones, but is now trying to make it in the foot corridas market. His previous outing in Valencia produced an excellent string of classy and vibrant animals that helped El Cid and Perera triumph. Let us hope he repeats his success today, anything that gives the market a new encaste is welcome.

The first bull of the afternoon had a disconcerting entry into the ring, it lowered its head when it met the lures, but it did not repeat charges, opting instead to head to another part of the ring. It received a long, strong pic from the reserve picador which was followed  by another couple of hard pic. The lidia was handled by El Soro’s banderilleros. It was strange that El Soro, who promised to unleash his pyrotechnics on Valencia, was not involved in quites and barely faced the bull in the opening two tercios. The bull showed manso tendencies, charged reticently and, when it did, measured the torero at each turn. El Soro asked his cuadrilla to place banderillas, much to the disappointment of the crowd. They covered the tercio with professional correctness, but no brilliance given the bull’s reticent condition. The bull lasted barely three passes de muleta. El Soro could see that it charged with power and he was unable to dominate its advances. A swift bajonazo completed the sorry scene.

El Soro was in a better mood to receive the fourth bull. Its charge was noble, sweet and long, giving Vicente the chance to perform jovial vernoicas and a bright quite. It also charged like a dream to Jesus Duque’s capote for a cold quite by veronicas – the animal lacked some verve, but it was extremely classy. Surprisingly, El Soro did not place banderillas. It was unfortunate to see El Soro so inhibited. His toreo is based on creating a festive atmosphere in the plaza, and today his attitude was anything but festive. Despite the bull’s class, by the muleta tercio, it’s tardiness and lack of bravery prevailed. Although there was a chance at creating a faena, El Soro was not confident in his ability to do so at any point. He gave a poor account, not committing to torear and swiftly taking the sword, thereby completing his unfortunate afternoon.

Jesus Duque’s first bull spent the recibo capotero looking to jump over the boards. Worringly, it also indicated a lack of strength. It received a couple of light pics, dismounting the picador during the first one, but had enough mobility to give Román the chance to perform an untidy quite by chicuelinas and tafalleras that, nonetheless, enchanted the crowd. The bull seemed to be mansito, but perhaps with the edge of nerve to give the torero a chance to perform. Duque gave a long faena, with many passes, but conveyed little emotion. The bull was classy, and despite some odd intermittences between charges, was asking for quality, reposed toreo. Duque is inexperienced and could only execute his rapid flaps. At least, unlike El Soro, he had the capacity to cope with the bull.  Despite the pinchazo (which also cost him a tossing) and estocada, there was an inexplicable petition for an ear.

The fifth bull of the afternoon had a subdued entry into the ring, plenty of nobility but a complete lack of vigour. Although Duque, its matador, was unable to shine with the capote, Román once again took his right to a quite. He gave some still espaldinas concluded with a larga cambaida de rodillas and a brionesa – bright and decisive toreo. Duque began with a tight pase cambiado in the centre of the ring, which was the prelude to a faena which was full of passes but low on toreo. The bull was mobile and committed to the first part of each pass, but failed to follow through and cut short. Despite his dignified outing, there is little to remember in Duque's toreo.

Román tried to be involved in the first couple of toros at every opportunity. Itwas  therefore no surprise that he was very active with the cape during his opening bull. He took to his knees to receive his bull, gave it rogerinas to take it to the horse and gave an excellent quite by saltilleras, capped with a couple of brionesas that had the crowd on its feet. Román was determined to give a positive account of himself this afternoon and took to his knees once again to open his faena in the centre of the ring – a bright start that had the crowd completely focussed on the faena. The bull was noble and mobile although it lost interest in the lures as each series progressed, evidencing a lack of bravery. Román’s work ebbed and flowed along with the bull’s condition. After a solid start, marked by good, linked, toreo en redondo, the bull’s energy waned and so did Román’s toreo. He tried to salvage some emotion with a closing arrimón, although the bull’s lack of vigour cheapened the gesture. Nonetheless, credit to Román. While the bull charged, his muleta was there to perform pleasing toreo.  

Román continued to show his disposition as he headed to the puerta de chiqueros to greet the sixth bull a pora gayola. He continued the recibo capotero with three larga cambiadas de rodillas, delantales a chicuelina and capped with a serpentina. After a non-eventful couple of first tercios, the bull emerged with mobility but lack of focus. Román began well with some estatuarios and a well linked series of derechazos. However, the bull’s initial mobility proved to be a mirage. By the third series the lack of focus and stamina in the bull became obvious. Ultimately it lacked commitment to charge. Román was firm, stayed still and managed to impose some interesting passages of toreo. It was the most one could muster to such a lacklustre animal. Román’s final arrimón was the last show of determination and brilliance of impressive afternoon. The oreja he was awarded, after an estocada and descabello, proved a deserved prize for his afternoon.

So ended another disappointing afternoon marked by the bulls' sub-par performance. Román did well in the circumstances, he was bright and involved all afternoon and may well find a place in second tier corridas. Jesus Duque was entirely forgettable, the best we can write is that at least he had the physical and technical wherewithal to face his bulls with dignity. But toreo calls for more. There is little doubt that El Soro left the ring deeply disappointed. Toreo is a performance art, and El Soro promised to enchant Valencia once more with his sense of spectacle and pyrotechnics. However, also toreo calls for its performers to dominate a bull before they can give free reign to their inner artist. El Soro plainly lacked this crucial element today. This afternoon was a swansong too far.

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