Kodo Drummers: Evolution

It takes two years’ training to join this ensemble and this dedication was apparent throughout a dramatic show. The troupe played a variety of Taiko drums from small to massive; a muscular performer, stripped to the waist, pummelled the largest drum placed on a wooden frame which produced incredible reverberations alongside timpani and a huge bass drum. An intricate piece that mimicked a scuttling ant colony and added echoes of a horror film soundtrack ended with a thunderous explosion. A more theatrical second half added extra instruments and clever choreography while the thrilling big drum finale was a real showstopper.

Brighton Dome Concert Hall, 30 January 2018

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