Feria de Nîmes: novilleros generation, buds and their promises

Le jeune Marco Pérez lors d’une séance entraînement au Mas de la Chassagne à Arles. Midi Libre – Archives F. P.

La temporada qui s'est ouverte va-t-elle voir éclore de prochaines "figuras" ? Tour d'horizon.

Nostalgia or sweet reverie ? If bullfights, isolated or included in the cycles of ferias, form the framework of the major events on the calendar, why not imagine that novilladas could, in turn, crystallize attention aficionados ? The example of the days lived in Nîmes throughout the 90s is in everyone's memory. That of the actors, the spectators or the books which bear witness to it. With a gallery of personalities composed firstly, among others, of Jesulín de Ubrique, Chamaco (for an explosive mano a mano which allowed the box office of the arenas to display in the morning a historic "no hay billetes!), Denis Loré, Finito de Córdoba, Marcos Sánchez Mejías, Manuel Caballero or, later, Juan Bautista and El Juli, the dazzling triumphs followed one another. And if, by chance, current events would authorize a revival ? State of play.

At the top of the current list, Marco Pérez

Looking at the first statistical rankings and taking into account only novilleros under the age of 20 who have not yet had an alternative ceremony date planned, a handful of novilleros stand out. Young shoots noted for their great promises. In the lead, of course, Marco Pérez. At the top of the current list, after a well-publicized debut with Picadors revealing an innate sense of the toreo, the young Salmantine (he turned 16 last fall), directed by Jean-Baptiste Jalabert, is expected at each outing with legitimate curiosity. Sense of lidia, wide variety of repertoire, clarity of gesture, are his strengths. In circumstances of responsibility he can be listed among solid values.

Javier Zulueta is installed among the real espois

Javier Zulueta quickly moved into the same ranks as the real hopes. Pure Andalusian, son and grandson of alguazils from the bullring of Seville, with a mother intimately linked to bullfighting culture, winner of the tournament organized by the bullfighting school of Seville, and directed by the' #39;empresa Pagés, who is at the head of the Maestranza, he undoubtedly has enviable trump cards.

He will be, without discussion, one of the most observed personalities of the temporada. However, and without being able to bet with his eyes closed on the other young bullfighters called to make their place in the sun from 2024, other names could become familiar in conversations between aficionados. Jarocho, son of a matador and banderillero, originally from Burgos and having started with picadors l&#39 ;last year can legitimately join the squad of novilleros in sight, especially since his contract on May 21 in Madrid is looming and is, obviously, of essential importance.

This Sunday, two other values ​​on the cartel

And, at the cartel this Pentecost Sunday morning in this Cape d'or in Nîmes, two other young talents are invited to display their qualities and put forward their claims. With Samuel Román, from Cordoba, and Samuel Navalón, from Valencia, both having collected an ear during the recent Easter fair in Arles, interesting discoveries for the Pentecost public . And, perhaps, first confirmations for a bright future.