Matador Antonio Barrera in the capote de paseo (dress cape) before a bullfight during the 2003 Aste Nagusia festival in Bilbao, Spain

A torero (roughly "bull handler") is the main performer in bullfighting events in Spain and other Spanish-speaking countries. He or she is the person who performs with and finally kills the bull. The role is also called toreador in English (and in Bizet's opera Carmen), but this term is almost never used in Spain or in Latin America. The term torero encompases bullfighters who fight the bull on foot as well as those who do so on horseback (picadores and rejoneadores) Matador Antonio Barrera in the capote de paseo (dress cape) before a bullfight during the 2003 Aste Nagusia festival in Bilbao, Spain Image by Junio This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Matador Antonio Barrera in the capote de paseo (dress cape) before a bullfight during the 2003 Aste Nagusia festival in Bilbao, Spain Image by Junio This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Marco Antonio Barrera Tapia (January17, 1974 in, Mexico City, DIF, Mexico known as Antonio Barrera, was a famous bullfighter. ... Spanish toreo, corrida de toros or tauromaquia; Portuguese corrida de touros or tauromaquia) is a blood sport that involves, most of the times, professional performers (matadores) who execute various formal moves with the goal of appearing graceful and confident, while masterful over the bull itself; these maneuvers are performed at... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Bilbao (Basque: Bilbo) in the North of Spain, is the largest city in the Basque Country and the capital of the province of Biscay (Basque: Bizkaia). ... Bull ring (Plaza de Toros) La Malagueta in Málaga (Spain) Bullfighting or tauromachy (Spanish toreo, corrida de toros or tauromaquia; Portuguese tourada, corrida de touros or tauromaquia) is a tradition that involves, most of the time, professional performers (generally called in Spanish toreros or matadores and in Portuguese toureiros... The English language is a West Germanic language that originates in England. ... Georges Bizet Georges Bizet (October 25, 1838 – June 3, 1875) was a French composer and pianist of the romantic era. ... Sydney Opera House: one of the worlds most recognizable opera houses and landmarks Opera refers to a dramatic art form, originating in Europe, in which the emotional content or primary entertainment is conveyed to the audience as much through music, both vocal and instrumental, as it is through the... Poster from the 1875 premiere of Carmen Carmen is a French opera by Georges Bizet. ... Latin America consists of the countries of South America and some of North America (including Central America and some the islands of the Caribbean) whose inhabitants mostly speak Romance languages, although Native American languages are also spoken. ...

The most skillful toreros can be elevated to the title Matador at an special bullfight called an alternativa. At this bullfight the Novillero (junior bullfighter) is presented to the crowd as a matador de toros.

Matador

A matador, lit. killer, is considered to be as much an artist as a competitor. One of the most famous torero of all time was Juan Belmonte, whose technique in the ring revolutionised bullfighting and remains the standard by which matadors are judged to this day. The style and bravery of the matador is regarded as being at least as important as whether or not he actually kills the bull. The most successful matadores are often treated like pop stars, with a matching financial income, cult followings and accompanied by lurid tabloid stories about their sexual conquests. The danger of bullfighting adds to the matador's mystique; matadores are often injured by bulls and more than 40 have been killed in the ring. One of the most famous bullfighters in history, Manolete, died this way in 1947. This hazard is said to be central to the nature and appeal of bullfighting. Cover of Time Magazine (January 5, 1925 Juan Belmonte y García (April 14, 1892-April 8, 1962) was considered the greatest matador of all time, and he revolutionised the art of bullfighting. ... For Popular music (music that is popular, rather than of a specific genre or style), see Popular music. ... Newspaper sizes in August 2005. ... Manolete Manuel Laureano Rodríguez Sánchez (July 4, 1917 in Córdoba, Spain - August 28, 1947 in Linares, Spain), better known as Manolete, was a famous Spanish bullfighter. ... 1947 (MCMXLVII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1947 calendar). ...

The vast majority of matadors are men. In recent years, a number of women have become matadores, but this has been hugely controversial among aficionados and disparaged by many of the (male) matadors. This article concerns how a man differs from women. ... Image of a woman on the Pioneer plaque sent to outer space. ... Look up Controversy in Wiktionary, the free dictionary For other uses, see Controversy (disambiguation). ...

The American writer Ernest Hemingway aspired to be a matador. His novel The Sun Also Rises has autobiographical elements and includes bullfighting themes. He also wrote a non-fiction book on bullfighting, entitled Death in the Afternoon. Ernest Miller Hemingway (July 21, 1899 – July 2, 1961) was an American novelist, short story writer, and journalist. ... The Sun Also Rises is the first significant novel by Ernest Hemingway, first published in 1926, following a group of expatriate Americans in Europe during the 1920s. ... Categories: Literature stubs | 1932 books | Ernest Hemingway works ...

Picador

A picador is a bullfighter who uses a lance while on horseback to test the bull and prepare him for the bullfighters final performance. The shape of the lance or pica is regulated by Spanish law to prevent serious damage to the bull which was view as cheating in the past. The bull charges the horses in the ring and at the moment of contact the picador lances the bull in the large muscle at the back of the neck. Skilled picadors can actually correct faults in the manner in which the bull charges by lancing the bull in such a way that the bull ceases hooking to one side, which can seriously endanger a matador.

Banderillero

The banderillero is a torero who sets the banderillas. This are colorful sticks with a barbed point which are placed in the top of the bulls shoulder. Banderilleros attempt to place the sticks while running as close to the bull as possible. They are judged by the crowd on thier form and bravery. Sometimes a matador who was a particularly skillful banderillero before becomming a matador will place some of the banderillas himself.

See also

• International Movement Against Bullfights

Bullfighting Bull ring (Plaza de Toros) La Malagueta in Málaga (Spain) Bullfighting or tauromachy (Spanish toreo, corrida de toros or tauromaquia; Portuguese tourada, corrida de touros or tauromaquia) is a tradition that involves, most of the time, professional performers (generally called in Spanish toreros or matadores and in Portuguese toureiros...