Star Percussionist Marianna Bednarska’s Début in Hong Kong
Polish star percussionist Marianna Bednarska is bringing her electrifying performances to Hong Kong for the very first time on 24 January with Hong Kong Sinfonietta and Music Director Christoph Poppen: Peter Eötvös: The Speaking Drums.
Marianna Bednarska began her musical studies with the piano, soon replaced by classical percussion instruments. After graduating with honours from the Karol Szymanowski State Music School in Warsaw, she obtained with highest marks a bachelor’s degree from the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Stuttgart, and a master’s degree from the Haute École de Musique de Genève.
Marianna Bednarska by Venera Red
“My artistic path truly began in a family home where music was a natural part of daily life. In the early years, it seemed almost certain that I would become a promising young pianist. Everything changed, however, when my grand-aunt, who taught percussion at that time, invited me to one of her percussion class concerts. What immediately captivated me was the richness of the instruments and the beauty and diversity of their sounds. The performers shaped sound with mallets of all kinds, sometimes with their hands or bows, and what struck me most was how naturally they moved behind their instruments, exchanging smiles and energy, as if the instruments were simply a part of them. That experience changed everything. That very evening, I told my parents I wanted to switch to classical percussion,” she recalls.
In 2013, Bednarska received the Polish-Danish Friendship Award for her unique artistic activity connecting both countries. In 2014, at the invitation of the renowned Danish composer Anders Koppel, Bednarska was the first percussionist in history to record the complete set of Koppel’s marimba concertos, and released it as her début album Marimba Concertos on Dacapo Records.
She won the 2nd Prize at the Geneva International Music Competition 2019, and was winner of the Prix Credit Suisse Jeunes Solistes 2019 as well as 24 First Prizes and Special Prizes at international percussion competitions, including in Chicago, Bamberg, Paris, Fermo, Plovdiv.
Since 2023, Bednarska has been teaching at the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, with the aim not only to share her knowledge and experience but also to nurture young artists as they discover their own artistic language, opening them to a world where curiosity and individuality are valued just as highly as discipline and mastery.
“I see art and music in education as a living exchange: a space for bold questions, creative risk and honest dialogue with both the past and the unknown. Ultimately, the true role of music – like any other art form – is to awaken emotion, give us the courage to tell our own story and invite others to become part of that journey. Classical percussion encourages the development of independent thinking, sensitivity and imagination. It opens us to experiences that go far beyond technique or learning new repertoire. It inspires an almost architectural way of thinking about form, colour and time, teaching us how to listen deeply, build soundscapes and create meaning through gesture and nuance,” she explains with passion.
On 24 January, she will present monumental composer Peter Eötvös’ Speaking Drums – an instantly captivating masterpiece utilising an impressive range of percussion instruments as well as the versatile human voice – under the baton of Hong Kong Sinfonietta’s Music Director Christoph Poppen. Rossini’s beloved William Tell Overture will start the concert, and Rachmaninov’s towering symphonic achievement – the sublime Symphony No 2 – will conclude the unmissable programme.
“Preparing Peter Eötvös’s Speaking Drums has been an inspiring and extraordinary journey, quite unlike preparing any traditional concerto. Speaking Drums holds a unique place in the contemporary repertoire, as it redefines the very idea of a percussion concerto. Here, the soloist becomes not only a musician, but also a narrator and the driving force behind the musical and theatrical energy of the piece. Peter Eötvös seamlessly weaves together poetry, rhythm, movement and instrumental brilliance,” she explains.
Bednarska will not only play the score but she will also improvise, reciting poetry, moving between multiple percussion set-ups and creating a living dialogue with both the orchestra and the audience. She will experiment with a wide range of percussion sounds, including unconventional objects.
Marianna Bednarska’s performance of Peter Eötvös’s Speaking Drums with Hong Kong Sinfonietta, Tongyeong International Music Festival 2024
This concert will mark her début in Hong Kong and her second collaboration with Hong Kong Sinfonietta after the Tongyeong International Music Festival 2024.
“My first collaboration with Hong Kong Sinfonietta left me with wonderful memories. What truly stayed with me was the exceptional artistry, musical sensitivity, passion and dedication, all sustained by a spirit of genuine artistic dialogue. I felt welcomed not only as a musician, but as a person, thanks to the kindness of both the musicians and the entire team. That is why performing together once more, this time in Hong Kong, feels especially meaningful to me,” she shares with emotion.
More details about the concert can be found here: Peter Eötvös: The Speaking Drums