“A Savage Beat is poised to make history in the realm of percussion concertos. Sauli Zinovjev’s powerful composition takes listeners on an exhilarating journey through a thunderous landscape of ancient and modern percussion instruments, featuring Japanese taikos, shimmering gongs, vibrant steel drums, and more, creating a truly breathtaking experience.” — Vivi Vassileva 

On 15 November, Vivi Vassileva performs the world premiere of Sauli Zinovjev​’s new percussion concerto A Savage Beat with Beethoven Orchestra Bonn. The concerto was commissioned by Beethoven Orchestra Bonn and co-commissioners include Wiener Konzerthaus and Orchestre Philharmonique du Luxembourg , who Vivi Vassileva will tour with in February 2025.

“When one first thinks of percussion instruments, images of chaotic loud bangs and bursts of energy may come to mind. While these elements are indeed essential to the percussionist’s sound palette, the true nature of percussion instruments is often more ritualistic. Consider Indonesian gamelan music, African tribal drumming, or the traditional Japanese Taiko drumming, all of which play significant cultural and even religious roles.

In my percussion concerto titled A Savage Beat the concept of ritual serves as the starting point. This idea is reflected not only in the rhythmic unfolding of the piece but also in the recurring harmonies that often linger in an almost haunting manner. Spatially, the percussion instruments are spread across the stage in various positions, which the soloist navigates throughout the six movements.” — Sauli Zinovjev