Sol y Sombra

León, Guanajuato, November 4, 2023: Diego Silveti

Diego Silveti was as superb as I have ever seen him during the afternoon of November 4 in León, Guanajuato, along with Roca Rey making a day to remember.

 

 

 

 

 

León, Guanajuato, November 4, 2023: Andrés Roca Rey (cont.)

Andrés Roca Rey, at Plaza de Toros La Luz in León, Guanajuto.

The best seat I could obtain was in Sol, which is not usually where I sit.

I quickly noticed that most activity was taking place directly in front of color paintings on the barrera (I haven't been able to determine the artist), which made a wonderful background, especially when Andrés was in front of the drawing which included the words "El Rey"!

 

 

 

 

León, Guanajuato, November 4, 2023: Andrés Roca Rey

On November 4 of this year I attended a bullfight in León, Guanajuato, a mano a mano with Andrés Roca Rey and Diego Silveti.

This was another superb corrida. Both matadors were electrifying with wonderful bulls from Villa Carmela.

 

More tomorrow!

Irapuato October 28,2023: Francisco Martinez

Francisco Martinez took his alternativa in 2019, and this was the first time I have seen this stylish young matador.

I was very impressed with his style and comportment. If he had killed well I am sure he would have been awarded an ear for each of his bulls.

 

Irapuato, October 28, 2023: Pablo Hermoso de Mendoza

Every year I travel somewhere in Mexico to photograph Day of the Dead activities.

If it works out, I try to attend a bullfight before or after Day of the Dead.

This year I traveled to Michoacan for Day of the Dead (see my other blog, www.photoabcs.com in a few days when I begin posting those photos!)

I was able to attend one corrida in Irapuato on October 28, and another in León on November 4.

Each was exceptionally good!

Here are some photos of Pablo Hermoso in Irapuato, one of many stops on his despedida tour.

In the past 15 years I have seen Pablo at least a dozen times. In fact, seeing Pablo Hermoso 15 years ago is the reason I became interested in the Fiesta Brava!

This performance was his best I have seen in years. Though he cut two ears from each bull (ganadería: Montecristo), his performance with his second bull was exceptional. The pirouettes with his horses while riding away from the charging bull were a sight to behold.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stay tuned for the next week as I post more photos from Irapuato as well as from León, Guanajuato, of Joselito Adame, Francisco Martinez, Diego Silveti and Andrés Roca Rey.

Rafael Ortega, 1970-2023

Tlaxcaltecan matador Rafael Ortega passed away this week at the young age of 53.

I was privileged to see him in the ring twice, once in León, Guanajuato in January, 2010, in a cartel with El Juli and Mario Aguilar (1991-2018), and then the following year in Tijuana, in a cartel with Humberto Flores and Enrique Espinoza "El Cuate."

In León:

 

In Tijuana:

 

Juan Gómez "Dinastía, cont.

More photos of Juan Gómez "Dinastía" at Plaza San Marcos, Aguascalientes, on October 30, 2021:

 

 

Juan Gómez "Dinastía"

The corrida at Plaza San Marcos on October 30, 2021, consisted of six retired matadors, followed by Colombian novillero Juan Gómez "Dinastía."

This novillero displayed a commanding presence and transmitting great emotion to the audience with his novillo Don Laza.

Though he did not succeed with his first attempt with the sword, to me he displayed great ability and promises a great future.

 

 

Caping his novillo:

Preparing to dedicate his faena:

 

 

More of Juan Gómez tomorrow.

Plaza San Marcos: Festival Corrida, October 30, 2021

A few other moments from the Festival Corrida held at Plaza San Marcos in Aguascalientes on October 30, 2021.

Carlos Barbosa warms up with his capote:

 

Carlos Barbosa "El Peque" and the novillo Venadito:

 

Judas Tadeo and the novillo Pinguinito:

 

This boy served as a banderillero, earning applause from the crowd for his fine efforts:

 

A native of Aguascalientes, Jorge Delgado "Evodio" capes his novillo Toto:

 

Ricardo Carmona watches the final moments of his novillo, Gitano.

Carlos Montes holds the ear of his novillo, Principe.

 

Escuela de Toreros

Aguascalientes, Mexico, is the birthplace, literally, of scores of matadors.

Many of them begin by studying technique outside of the Plaza de Toros Monumental de Aguascalientes, like these young aspiring matadors.

 

 

Luis David Adame

Luis David performs with his second bull, Teruquin (Begoña), during the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes's Plaza Monumental:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Unfortunately Luis David did not kill on his first attempt and was only awarded applause.

Luis David Adame

Luis David is one of the Adame brothers in the dynasty of matadors from Aguascalientes, Mexico.

Here he performs in the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes on October 31, 2021.

His first bull, Luminoso (ganadería Begoña):

More photos of Luis David and his second bull tomorrow!

Leo Valadez

Leo Valadez, one of Mexico's young and talented matadors, from Aguascalientes, performing in Aguascalientes at the Festival de las Calaveras on October 31, 2021.

Caping his first bull, Vivaracho (Perky) (Ganadería Begoña):

Ready to place banderilas:

After a series of passes with Vivaracho:

Citing for the kill. Leo would be awarded one ear:

Leo's second bull, Bien Querido, distracted while Leo makes his dedication before the faena:

With Bien Querido (Begoña):

Emilio de Justo, cont.

More photos from Emilio de Justo's second bull, Siempre Alegre, on October 31, 2021, in Aguascalientes, Mexico:

Exulting after a successful series of passes with the muleta:

Celebrating a successful kill:

Dos orejas:

Emilio de Justo, cont.

More photos of Emilio de Justo from the Festival de las Calaveras in Aguascalientes, on October 31,  2021.

Emilio's second bull of the day, Siempre Alegre (Begoña), enters the ring with enthusiasm, as its name would suggest!

More photos tomorrow!

Emilio de Justo

38 year-old Spanish matador Emilio de Justo has taken the New World by storm during his campaign during the last few months.

Here he is during the corrida on October 31, 2021, in Plaza Monumental de Aguascalientes, during the Festival de las Calaveras.

With his first bull, Devoto (ganadería Begoña):

More photos of Emilio and his second bull tomorrow.

Leonardo Benitez

I have seen Leonardo Benitez perform three times in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental, but the last time was in 2011!

So it was my pleasure to see him perform last Saturday in a festival in honor of Eloy Cavazos at Rancho Santa Alicia, a private ranch southeast of Tijuana.

This was my second time at the lovely Rancho Santa Alicia, the last time being in 2013.

Leonardo's bull, Maestro, from Rancho Santa Alicia's ganadería Cervantes Limón.

Benitez caping the handsome Maestro:

The first series of passes ends inauspiciously:

He quickly regained composure and control over Maestro:

More photos from Rancho Santa Alicia will be coming in a few days!

Hacienda San Antonio Tepetzala

In November, 2019 I toured a number of Mexican ganaderías (bull breeding ranches) in southern and central Mexico with the Peña Taurina Redondél of Sacramento, California.

One of the highlights was a visit to the lovely Hacienda San Antonio Tepetzala. The hacienda is located north of Apizaco, in the taurine-rich state of Tlaxcala.

The hacienda traces its roots to 1530, just nine years after Hernán Cortes landed in Mexico.

Its use as a ganadería dates to 1951. The ganadería's founder was don Cirilo Sánchez Piedras and his brother, Emilio.  Don Cirilo's son, Emilio Sánchez Rivera and his wife Stephanie Quintero Bonilla are the present owners, and were our very gracious hosts.

The entrance to the Hacienda.

The peaceful courtyard:

Emilio shares some of the documents relating to the original land grant.

Touring the countryside where the bulls and cows grazed. We were happy to be out of harm's way up in the flat-bed trailer pulled by a tractor!

When fighting bulls are together in the countryside, they are usually tranquil, but their innate aggression sometimes shows, like this one attacking a bush!

Ramón González is a tlachiquero (one who collects agave juice for use in pulque). He demonstrates how the aguamiel (agave juice) is extracted from the heart of the agave into the large gourd he holds, and is then transferred to the large containers on the back of the hard-working burro.

A rock that covers the heart of the maguey is removed, revealing the aguamiel. The rock is replaced after collection and Ramón will return in a day or two to collect more.

Pepe Buenaventura samples the aguamiel after a rough filtration.

The aguamiel arrives by burro to the warehouse, where it will be fermented:

After two or three days fermenting in large vats, we have pulque! (in the pitcher)

Pulque was the first fermented drink in Mexico, known to the indigenous tribes. It fell out of favor in the 20th century with the arrival of beer etc., but is now enjoying a small revival.

The lovely chapel:

Antique implements in the old kitchen:

At the bar!

Custom-made shot glasses bearing the brand of the ganadería. The glasses are made by an artisan in nearby Huamantla.

Armando admires a portrait of Juan Belmonte:

Ganaderías in Mexico serve a vital role in preserving undeveloped land for wildlife.

A Canyon Towhee:

Bewick's Wren:

Vermilion Flycatcher:

Morante de la Puebla

Morante de la Puebla has the uncanny ability to make something incredibly dangerous look incredibly elegant!

Here he passes the bull, Togado (ganadería Zalduendo), in Valladolid, Spain, during the bullfight in honor of Victor Barrio, held on September 4, 2016.

José Rodriguez, "Pepehillo"

I enjoy matadors who place their own banderillas. José Rodriguez "Pepehillo" was always one to excite the crowd with his banderillas, including when he broke them in two (quebrados, or cortos), such as this time in Tijuana's Plaza Monumental on August 31, 2008.

Ernesto Javier "Calita"

Ernesto Javier "Calita" capes his first bull, Destino (Bernaldo de Quirós) at Plaza Mexico, November 10, 2019.

 

Ernesto Javier "Calita"

Ernesto Javier "Calita," his cuadrilla, and the aguacil prepare to enter Plaza Mexico. Calita is lit by one of the many spotlights illuminating the long corridor leading to the bullring. (tap or click to enlarge)

Morante de la Puebla

A close up of Spanish matador Morante de la Puebla, as he awaits his entrance into Plaza Mexico.

Photographed on the afternoon of December 10, 2019.

Morante de la Puebla

Matador Morante de la Puebla awaits his entrance to Plaza Mexico on the afternoon of November 10, 2019.

Morante de la Puebla

At my recent shows in Mexico City and Guadalajara, I was frequently asked my opinions on different bullfighters.

My response was that each matador brought to mind a different word. Roca Rey: electrifying. José Tomás: purity. Morante de la Puebla: poetry.

La poesía describes Morante's sublime style. Often times it seems his passes are in slow-motion, his temple (passing the cape at just a certain speed to keep the bull at just a certain speed) is so perfect. His gesture, absence of gesture, or a raised or lowered hand, makes the difference between mechanics and poetry.

As a former matador who was sitting next to me commented (something is lost in memory and translation): "Many ears are cut, but artistry is rare."

Here is Morante passing his second bull, Agua Nieve, (Bernaldo de Quirós), from which he would be awarded an ear.

Photographed in Plaza Mexico on November 10 of this year.