Bright Seville in the fourth celebration of the April Fair and La Maestranza bursting at the seams, after two consecutive afternoons of triumphs by the bullfighters and bulls (from Santiago Domecq and El Parralejo) that not only led to them, but were also a paradigm of bravery.
On the Morante de la Puebla poster, in its second walk after the Easter Sunday fiasco; José María Manzanares, who is from Alicante but Seville made it his own and Pablo Aguado, all the temper in the world on his wrists. The bulls, by Juan Pedro Domecq, were not going to belong to Uncle Picardías, of course.
Two veronicas and a half from Morante to whet your appetite, with part of the public still to settle - so to speak - in their locality. Juan Pedro's, who took two rods without using himself, galloped with good stride and Curro Javier and Alberto Zayas saluted with flags.
Morante's task began with excellent bullfighting and series by the two pitons full of substance, finished off with those from the chest to the opposite shoulder pad and sprinkled with trademark ornaments. The thrust fell somewhat low and despite the request for his ear the user said nones and Morante received a loud applause.
Merit of Manzanares imbibing his first man in his cape and then bullfighting with Veronica's applause. Bull distracted, without delivery, and Manzanares's work alternating series for one and another piton in which he tried to channel attacks lacking emotion. The silence after the thrust sums up what was seen.
Ten verónicas that were growing in spirit and a heavenly half from Aguado, continued with a beautiful galleo to carry the bull (which charged with good sound) warmed up - even more - the atmosphere, already summery in the Sevillian afternoon.
Crutch in hand, Aguado did not quite find the point of a bull that was losing gas, although there were some round and natural ones with the mettle that distinguishes the Sevillian bullfighter, in a task that lasted excessively for the achievements achieved.
The fourth barely resisted four Morante veronicas and sang its meek condition. The genius of La Puebla showed off the gesture and the muleta (sic) task lasted a sigh. He finished spoiling the thing when the sword guarded Juan Pedro's and the audience showed his anger. As he spent time with Curro Romero, more than one person said to himself: "Next time your father will come to see you... and I."
With the afternoon already going downhill (or uphill, depending on how you look at it) and more than one yearning for the previous two afternoons, the fifth one came out and when Manzanares wanted to stretch out the Veronica... he snatched the cape from him and made a rebujo (no confused with that rogue drink they call rebujito, consumed in droves in a fairground with streets named after bullfighters, which awaits the lighting on Pescaíto Saturday).
The bull was what it was, one without salt, and the stew that the man from Alicante tried to prepare with it barely had any substance, although one cannot deny his willful effort, which is not always praise. The afternoon passed slowly, heavily, even though the hands of the clock said otherwise, but there was still the sixth and with it Aguado to redeem it. Or not.
And he prepared for it with a bouquet of well-expressed speedwells, with the bull charging with a certain good stride. The removal had its highest point in the slow Veronica half of the closing.
The beginning of Aguado's work is beautiful, bullfighting in a circle with chained muletazos and at half height. But the joy soon went to the well when the bull showed his meekness by looking and going to a draw.
From the line a popular voice said: "What a firecracker, rancher!" Perfect summary of the first afternoon with figures and first there are no tickets to the fair.
