Bullfighting

A blog space for informed commentary on the corrida past and present
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Reflections on Vistalegre’s San Isidro

Tristan Wood 5/29/21 Tristan Wood 5/29/21

A breakthrough in putting on novilladas

Tristan Wood 5/12/21 Tristan Wood 5/12/21

Preview of a streamed San Isidro

Tristan Wood 4/30/21 Tristan Wood 4/30/21

On the crest of a wave

Tristan Wood 4/30/21 Tristan Wood 4/30/21

Escuelas taurinas

Tristan Wood 4/23/21 Tristan Wood 4/23/21

Whither Novilladas?

Tristan Wood 4/23/21 Tristan Wood 4/23/21

‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (4): Julio Aparicio Díaz

Tristan Wood 4/23/21 Tristan Wood 4/23/21

‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (3): Roberto Domínguez

Tristan Wood 3/23/21 Tristan Wood 3/23/21

Change in the air in Sevilla?

Tristan Wood 3/23/21 Tristan Wood 3/23/21

‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (2): Curro Romero

Tristan Wood 3/23/21 Tristan Wood 3/23/21

‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (1): Pedrito de Portugal

Tristan Wood 2/26/21 Tristan Wood 2/26/21

No, bullfighting is not art

Tristan Wood 2/21/21 Tristan Wood 2/21/21

Signs of life

Tristan Wood 2/20/21 Tristan Wood 2/20/21

Afeitado

Tristan Wood 1/30/21 Tristan Wood 1/30/21

A New History of Bullfighting

Tristan Wood 1/30/21 Tristan Wood 1/30/21

Not radical enough

Tristan Wood 12/21/20 Tristan Wood 12/21/20

Novillero Winners and Losers (2020 Season Review Pt3)

Tristan Wood 12/21/20 Tristan Wood 12/21/20

Matador Winners and Losers (2020 Season Review Pt2)

Tristan Wood 12/21/20 Tristan Wood 12/21/20

A Temporada Like No Other (2020 Season Review - Pt1)

Tristan Wood 11/20/20 Tristan Wood 11/20/20

Lagartijo’s ‘modern faena’ of 1885

Blog Archive

October 2020
- Oct 26, 2020 “You should see him before he’s killed…”
- Oct 27, 2020 Antonio Ferrera’s Badajoz encerrona: Past - Present - Future?
- Oct 28, 2020 Looking Back: 4 Men, 1 Week, Madrid Autumn 2019
- Oct 29, 2020 France thinks ahead
November 2020
- Nov 2, 2020 Las Ventas in limbo
- Nov 19, 2020 Málaga breaks the mould
- Nov 20, 2020 Lagartijo’s ‘modern faena’ of 1885
December 2020
- Dec 21, 2020 A Temporada Like No Other (2020 Season Review - Pt1)
- Dec 21, 2020 Matador Winners and Losers (2020 Season Review Pt2)
- Dec 21, 2020 Novillero Winners and Losers (2020 Season Review Pt3)
January 2021
- Jan 30, 2021 Not radical enough
- Jan 30, 2021 A New History of Bullfighting
February 2021
- Feb 20, 2021 Afeitado
- Feb 21, 2021 Signs of life
- Feb 26, 2021 No, bullfighting is not art
March 2021
- Mar 23, 2021 ‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (1): Pedrito de Portugal
- Mar 23, 2021 ‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (2): Curro Romero
- Mar 23, 2021 Change in the air in Sevilla?
April 2021
- Apr 23, 2021 ‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (3): Roberto Domínguez
- Apr 23, 2021 ‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (4): Julio Aparicio Díaz
- Apr 23, 2021 Whither Novilladas?
- Apr 30, 2021 Escuelas taurinas
- Apr 30, 2021 On the crest of a wave
May 2021
- May 12, 2021 Preview of a streamed San Isidro
- May 29, 2021 A breakthrough in putting on novilladas
- May 29, 2021 Reflections on Vistalegre’s San Isidro
June 2021
- Jun 25, 2021 ‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (5): Javier Conde
- Jun 25, 2021 Television and los toros
- Jun 25, 2021 Vive la France!
July 2021
- Jul 1, 2021 Four faenas: one common factor
- Jul 1, 2021 Farewell, Enrique?
- Jul 22, 2021 Torista plazas to the fore
- Jul 22, 2021 What kills magazines
- Jul 22, 2021 Morante widens his scope
- Jul 28, 2021 Not missing (but still missing) Santander
- Jul 28, 2021 Casas retains Valencia at a high price
August 2021
- Aug 10, 2021 The Casta Jijona, Vicente Martínez and the Quintas brothers
- Aug 10, 2021 El Puerto’s true triunfador
- Aug 24, 2021 ‘Toros & Toreros’ Extra (6): Manolo Martínez
- Aug 24, 2021 La Copa Chenel - a worthwhile initiative
September 2021
- Sep 6, 2021 Conflict at Villaseca de la Sagra
- Sep 9, 2021 Albacete Sept.8: Nearly a vulgar Puerta Grande
- Sep 10, 2021 Albacete Sept.9: Destructive swordwork
- Sep 12, 2021 Albacete Sept.10: Disastrous bulls from Daniel Ruiz
- Sep 12, 2021 Valladolid Sept.11: An unforgettable afternoon
- Sep 13, 2021 Salamanca Sept.12: Morante entertains and Marcos triumphs with galaches
- Sep 15, 2021 Tordesillas Sept.13: Garcigrandes for modestos
- Sep 15, 2021 Albacete Sept.14: A brave and genuine mano a mano
October 2021
- Oct 9, 2021 Las Ventas - cathedral or museum piece?
- Oct 9, 2021 Looking back on an historic Feria de San Miguel
- Oct 14, 2021 Madrid’s 2021 temporada
- Oct 25, 2021 The subsidy argument
- Oct 25, 2021 Forgotten matador wins la Copa Chenel
November 2021
- Nov 15, 2021 A Patchwork Temporada pointing to new values (2021 Season Review Pt1)
- Nov 15, 2021 Novilleros in open competition (2021 Season Review Pt2)
December 2021
- Dec 2, 2021 Diving deep into afición
- Dec 2, 2021 Changes at the top (2021 Season Review Pt3)
- Dec 20, 2021 Bulls at El Batán
- Dec 20, 2021 Regular performers and disappointments (2021 Season Review Pt4)
January 2022
- Jan 11, 2022 Difficult times - and worse to come?(2021 Season Review Pt5)
- Jan 11, 2022 Resurrection in Colombia
February 2022
- Feb 3, 2022 Don’t bite the hand that feeds you
- Feb 3, 2022 How do they do it?
- Feb 23, 2022 At last - a tender that puts tauromaquia first
- Feb 23, 2022 10 questions for Sevilla’s Feria de Abril
March 2022
- Mar 15, 2022 Unjustifiably marginalised - two approaches towards Madrid
- Mar 15, 2022 San Isidro: bullfighting’s showcase returns
- Mar 29, 2022 2022 Copa Chenel attracts controversy
- Mar 29, 2022 Early season pointers from the Comunidad Valenciana
April 2022
- Apr 12, 2022 A triumph of the spectacle
- Apr 26, 2022 Disruption of Madrid’s temporada looks likely
- Apr 26, 2022 Modernising bullfighting’s implements
May 2022
- May 11, 2022 Reflections on Sevilla
- May 16, 2022 San Isidro, May 15: A matter of timing
- May 17, 2022 San Isidro, May 16: If it’s excitement you’re after, Fonseca’s your man
- May 18, 2022 San Isidro, May 17: Not quite a funeral
- May 19, 2022 San Isidro, May 18: Misalignment
- May 20, 2022 San Isidro, May 19: Madrileños on their feet for Roca Rey
- May 21, 2022 San Isidro, May 20: A masterpiece by one, the Puerta Grande for another
- May 22, 2022 San Isidro, May 21: Not enough to continue as before
June 2022
- Jun 16, 2022 ¡La Fiesta vive! San Isidro 2022
- Jun 16, 2022 Belmonte v. Joselito in the 21st century
July 2022
- Jul 17, 2022 Bullfighting’s long, slow death
- Jul 17, 2022 100 years ago - corruption and poverty surrounding Manuel Granero’s death
- Jul 17, 2022 La Copa Chenel declares a winner and heads for the courts
- Jul 22, 2022 Mont de Marsan, July 21: Not everything is black or white
- Jul 23, 2022 Mont de Marsan, July 22: The cuadris meet expectations
- Jul 24, 2022 Mont de Marsan, July 23: Excellent Philippe Cuillé novillos and La Quinta toros
- Jul 26, 2022 Orthez & Mont de Marsan, July 24: Miuras are miuras - and Pedrazas de Yeltes are special too
- Jul 27, 2022 Santander, July 25: Morante and Urdiales delight in a corrida del arte
- Jul 27, 2022 Santander, July 26: A ‘toreo light’ encerrona
- Jul 29, 2022 Santander, July 27: All present
- Jul 29, 2022 Bilbao, July 28: Coached to success
- Jul 31, 2022 Santander, July 29: A great faena doesn’t necessarily mean a great bull
August 2022
- Aug 1, 2022 Azpeitia, July 30: It all comes good in the end
- Aug 2, 2022 Azpeitia, July 31: Spectacle from Ferrera and plaudits for Galdós
- Aug 3, 2022 Azpeitia, August 1: The day Morante came to town
- Aug 31, 2022 Cuadrillas bear brunt of attempt to make novilladas financially viable
- Aug 31, 2022 An unsuccessful attempt to destroy Gallito’s legacy
- Aug 31, 2022 Juan Antonio Arévalo - a socialist contributor to La Fiesta
- Aug 31, 2022 Ten toreros having a good summer
September 2022
- Sep 15, 2022 With NATC members in Calasparra, Albacete, Murcia and Yecla
October 2022
- Oct 3, 2022 Analysis of “a faenón”
- Oct 12, 2022 Abellán in the dock
- Oct 12, 2022 A great taurine writer has left us
- Oct 31, 2022 Changes in future bullfight streaming?
- Oct 31, 2022 All too familiar
November 2022
- Nov 25, 2022 ¡20 alternativas 20! (2022 Season Review Pt1)
- Nov 25, 2022 French lessons in protecting the corrida
December 2022
- Dec 7, 2022 The year’s triunfadores (2022 Season Review Pt2)
- Dec 7, 2022 Distinguished performers & dis-appointments (2022 Season Review Pt3)
- Dec 16, 2022 On comebacks
- Dec 16, 2022 A fine crop of novilleros (2022 Season Review Pt4)
January 2023
- Jan 6, 2023 Cali, Colombia and César Rincón
- Jan 19, 2023 El Cordobés’ career as seen from inside Spain
- Jan 19, 2023 Chances to see some of Mexico’s most talented matadors
February 2023
- Feb 2, 2023 San Isidro 2023 - a disservice to tauromaquia
- Feb 2, 2023 La Copa Chenel spreads its wings
- Feb 22, 2023 Whatever happened to the atanasios?
- Feb 22, 2023 The empresas reorganise
March 2023
- Mar 15, 2023 Afternoons with Thomas Dufau
- Mar 15, 2023 At the price of gold
- Mar 15, 2023 More challenges ahead!
- Mar 15, 2023 A name to look out for
- Mar 29, 2023 Early season pointers to the temporada
- Mar 29, 2023 Preventing corridas with shaved horns
- Mar 29, 2023 How do you become a figura?
April 2023
- Apr 3, 2023 The good, the not so good and the reprehensible at La Magdalena
- Apr 4, 2023 Competition at Arenas de San Pedro
May 2023
- May 2, 2023 Bullfighting’s new implements put to the test
- May 2, 2023 Three stupidities
- May 2, 2023 Sevilla’s 10 best faenas
- May 11, 2023 San Isidro, May 10: Remember Madrid?
- May 11, 2023 San Isidro, May 11: Memory and Recompense
- May 13, 2023 San Isidro, May 12: Missed Opportunities
- May 15, 2023 San Isidro, May 13: Ginés moves up a gear
- May 15, 2023 San Isidro, May 15 (matinal): Marco Pérez enraptures Las Ventas
- May 16, 2023 San Isidro, May 15 (tarde): Perera waves goodbye to a Madrid ear
- May 18, 2023 San Isidro, May 17: Another cold Monumental evening
- May 20, 2023 San Isidro, May 18: Moments of majesty, but no coronation
June 2023
- Jun 1, 2023 Impressions from la trama final de San Isidro 2023 (Part I)
- Jun 5, 2023 Is El Batán fit for purpose?
- Jun 5, 2023 Impressions from la trama final de San Isidro 2023 (Part II)
- Jun 9, 2023 Impressions from la trama final de San Isidro 2023 (Part III)
- Jun 23, 2023 Toreo by the rulebook
- Jun 26, 2023 On recent controversies
July 2023
- Jul 21, 2023 “A complete disaster”
- Jul 21, 2023 Pamplona’s ears
- Jul 21, 2023 Claims, hints and silence on wound treatment in France
August 2023
- Aug 6, 2023 Worrying figures
- Aug 6, 2023 El Juli’s evolution
- Aug 6, 2023 Ceniciento’s August feria in danger
- Aug 26, 2023 “No thought for bullfighting’s future”
- Aug 26, 2023 Impressions of Bilbao’s Corridas Generales de Aste Nagusia 2023 (Part I)
September 2023
- Sep 2, 2023 Impressions of Bilbao’s Corridas Generales de Aste Nagusia 2023 (Part II)
- Sep 2, 2023 The life and times of El Ruedo
- Sep 8, 2023 Valladolid, September 7: Getting from A to B
- Sep 9, 2023 Valladolid, September 8: An interesting and fond farewell
- Sep 10, 2023 Valladolid, September 9: Juan Ortega, triunfador
- Sep 11, 2023 Valladolid, September 10: Everyone out on shoulders
- Sep 23, 2023 Albacete, September 11: A similar result, but for different reasons
- Sep 23, 2023 Albacete, September 12: Differing ways to triumph
- Sep 23, 2023 Murcia, September 13: A post-feria fiesta
- Sep 23, 2023 Albacete, September 14: Over and unrewarded
October 2023
- Oct 13, 2023 How many subalternos are needed for a corrida de toros?
- Oct 13, 2023 Zaragoza’s Feria del Pilar 2023 (Part I)
- Oct 18, 2023 Zaragoza’s Feria del Pilar 2023 (Part II)
- Oct 18, 2023 2024: Decision time for the empresas
- Oct 25, 2023 Problems in Madrid’s corrales
November 2023
- Nov 7, 2023 Interviews with taurinos
- Nov 7, 2023 Changes the presidents would like to see
December 2023
- Dec 12, 2023 The year’s top toreros (2023 Season Review Pt1)
- Dec 12, 2023 Showing strongly (2023 Season Review Pt2)
- Dec 12, 2023 Setbacks (2023 Season Review Pt3)
- Dec 23, 2023 11 novilleros showing promise (2023 Season Review Pt4)
- Dec 23, 2023 Battle lines drawn?
January 2024
- Jan 13, 2024 Colombian toreros deserving more opportunities
- Jan 13, 2024 Return of the ‘tulios’
- Jan 22, 2024 The missing man
- Jan 31, 2024 La Copa Chenel expands
- Jan 31, 2024 First you see it: now you don’t!
February 2024
- Feb 2, 2024 Chapeau!
- Feb 2, 2024 A restored Feria de San Isidro
- Feb 23, 2024 Rutas del Toro
- Feb 23, 2024 Bullfights return to Lorca
March 2024
- Mar 10, 2024 The most interesting cartel of this year’s Olivenza feria
- Mar 10, 2024 La Magdalena 2024 (Part I): An aperitivo of four mixed dishes
- Mar 17, 2024 La Magdalena 2024 (Part II): Una Plata Fuerte Un Poco Flojo
- Mar 27, 2024 Mr Consistent
- Mar 27, 2024 Valencia Valuations
April 2024
- Apr 4, 2024 Arles’ 2024 Easter Feria
- Apr 28, 2024 Traditions and evolution in the ganadería of Celestino Cuadri
- Apr 28, 2024 The Princes of Sevilla and other royal moments
May 2024
- May 5, 2024 Espartaco – a Great Torero
- May 5, 2024 La Feria del Aficionado 2024: Huevos pasados por agua
- May 5, 2024 A move to abolish Spain’s National Award for Tauromaquia backfires
- May 5, 2024 A San Isidro preview
- May 28, 2024 Performances from the most important feria in the world (Part I)
- May 28, 2024 San Isidro, May 23: Diamonds in the dust
- May 28, 2024 San Isidro, May 24: “La tarde más accidentada de la feria”
- May 28, 2024 San Isidro, May 25: An impressive confirmación
June 2024
- Jun 6, 2024 Performances from the most important feria in the world (Part II)
- Jun 6, 2024 Azpeitia: telling it how it was
- Jun 13, 2024 Performances from the most important feria in the world (Part III)
- Jun 13, 2024 Madrid’s 2024 Corrida de Beneficencia: an insult to bullfighting
- Jun 13, 2024 The troubles with Madrid
July 2024
- Jul 2, 2024 Out of balance
- Jul 2, 2024 A people’s fiesta that ignores the people
- Jul 21, 2024 Being true to yourself in Pamplona
- Jul 21, 2024 Santander, July 20: Adverse conditions
- Jul 22, 2024 Bilbao, July 21: A cut above the rest
- Jul 23, 2024 Santander, July 22: “Torero de Santander”
- Jul 24, 2024 Santander, July 23: A heart-warming evening
- Jul 25, 2024 Santander, July 24: The need to succeed
- Jul 26, 2024 Santander, July 25: Easily pleased
- Jul 28, 2024 Santander, July 26: Los toros sin toros
- Jul 28, 2024 St Vincent de Tyrosse, July 27: Good bulls and bad manners
- Jul 30, 2024 Orthez, July 28: Two special events from the town’s Taurine Commission
August 2024
- Aug 22, 2024 Paco & Pepe Luis (two photos)
- Aug 22, 2024 Memorias I
- Aug 22, 2024 Toreo (and toros) de salón
- Aug 22, 2024 Santiago Domecq’s amazing 2024
- Aug 27, 2024 Las Corridas Generales de Bilbao 2024 (I)
September 2024
- Sep 2, 2024 Las Corridas Generales de Bilbao 2024 (II)
- Sep 2, 2024 The spat at Linares
- Sep 2, 2024 Memorias II
- Sep 16, 2024 The end of a dream?
- Sep 16, 2024 El Niño de las Monjas 100 years on
- Sep 24, 2024 A great feria produces a surprise triunfador
- Sep 24, 2024 Onetoro feels the sword
- Sep 24, 2024 Morante - is this the end?
October 2024
- Oct 21, 2024 Zaragoza’s los pilares (I)
- Oct 21, 2024 Zaragoza’s los pilares (II)
- Oct 21, 2024 Farewell to poncismo
November 2024
- Nov 3, 2024 Threats to the corrida in France and Mexico
- Nov 3, 2024 Borja’s Year (2024 Season Review Pt1)
- Nov 17, 2024 The current Establishment (2024 Season Review Pt2)
- Nov 17, 2024 Regulation changes - but in whose favour?
- Nov 28, 2024 On the sidelines or deserving more (2024 Season Review Pt3)
- Nov 28, 2024 Congruity - bullfighting and music
December 2024
- Dec 8, 2024 The top ganaderías (2024 Season Review Pt4)
- Dec 8, 2024 Interview with a horn-shaver
- Dec 22, 2024 Bad losers?
- Dec 22, 2024 Novilleros with prospects (2024 Season Review Pt5)
January 2025
- Jan 16, 2025 To build a monument
- Jan 16, 2025 Young, talented valencianos ignored in their home feria
- Jan 16, 2025 Patience and determination in the face of adversity
February 2025
- Feb 8, 2025 What rates a tail in Plaza México?
- Feb 8, 2025 An interesting (and televised) San Isidro in prospect
- Feb 25, 2025 A wide open Copa Chenel
- Feb 25, 2025 Forecasts after the Madrid and Albacete festivales
- Feb 25, 2025 Putting a feria together the Pagés way
March 2025
- Mar 19, 2025 Toreando slowly
- Mar 19, 2025 El Niño as ganadero
- Mar 19, 2025 Farewell, Plaza México
- Mar 31, 2025 Reports from a rain-affected Las Fallas
- Mar 31, 2025 toros:toreros - 100 subscribers & 4,000 visitors
April 2025
- Apr 8, 2025 Castellón’s Feria de la Magdalena
- Apr 8, 2025 Remembering how bullrings were used in Spain’s Civil War
- Apr 8, 2025 Temple and Juan Ortega
- Apr 8, 2025 Nothing new in Granada
- Apr 28, 2025 Rising at Easter
- Apr 28, 2025 What is a torero? – The intriguing life of Michael von der Goltz
- Apr 28, 2025 Scandal at Zaragoza
May 2025
- May 3, 2025 La Feria del Aficionado 2025
- May 3, 2025 Sevilla, May 2: More a matter of crowd dynamics
- May 4, 2025 Sevilla, May 3: Maximum effort, duly rewarded
- May 6, 2025 Sevilla, May 5: A lost Puerta del Príncipe and other marvels
- May 7, 2025 Sevilla, May 6: A descabellado triumph
- May 8, 2025 Sevilla, May 7: A mature Andrés Roca Rey
- May 10, 2025 Sevilla, May 8: Two types of artistry
- May 10, 2025 Madrid, May 9: San Isidro’s first day brings Talavante’s sixth Puerta Grande
- May 12, 2025 Madrid, May 10: Presidential inconsistencies
- May 21, 2025 The stars of San Isidro’s first week
- May 21, 2025 Vicente Barrera & Alberto Donaire return to Valencia
June 2025
- Jun 19, 2025 Reporting on San Isidro’s second half
- Jun 19, 2025 Who was the true San Isidro triunfador?
- Jun 19, 2025 Indultitis breaks out at Marbella
July 2025
- Jul 2, 2025 Cristina Sánchez, looking back
- Jul 2, 2025 Objections to the bull of Madrid
- Jul 2, 2025 What has happened to Olga Casado?
August 2025
- Aug 4, 2025 The lost generation
- Aug 4, 2025 Santander claims ‘La Feria del Norte’ title
- Aug 4, 2025 Orthez, July 27: An epic desafío
- Aug 16, 2025 A Las Ventas festival
- Aug 16, 2025 Morante’s unsurprising Pontevedra cornada
- Aug 16, 2025 Joselito Adame’s (temporary?) farewell
September 2025
- Sep 2, 2025 Two new ganaderías for the figuras
- Sep 2, 2025 Las Corridas Generales - Bilbao 2025
- Sep 2, 2025 Who is Sergio Rodríguez?
- Sep 8, 2025 Feria de Málaga 2025 (I)
- Sep 8, 2025 ‘Tardes de Soledad’ comes to London
- Sep 8, 2025 They use the pico* more than birds do
- Sep 14, 2025 Valladolid, September 13: Profound toreo with victorinos
- Sep 15, 2025 Madrid, September 14: Difficult fare in Las Ventas
- Sep 16, 2025 Fuenlabrada, September 15: Six escolares and Fernando Robleño
- Sep 17, 2025 Albacete, September 16: That end of feria feeling
October 2025
- Oct 4, 2025 Reviving a ganadería
- Oct 4, 2025 The best of Sevilla’s San Miguel faenas
- Oct 9, 2025 Feria de Málaga 2025 (II)
- Oct 9, 2025 A final political act
- Oct 22, 2025 A new book in English on bullfighting
- Oct 22, 2025 Catalunya produces a leading novillero
- Oct 22, 2025 Morante’s retirement and what should come after
November 2025
- Nov 1, 2025 An historic temporada (2025 Season Review Pt1)
- Nov 3, 2025 Remembering Rafael de Paula

Bullfighting

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