Nirmali Fenn - When Apathy is Betrayal

    

Nirmali Fenn - When Apathy is Betrayal

Just under an hour long, Nirmali Fenn's When Apathy is Betrayal connects an intensely spiritual musical language with the visceral reality of the modern world. Written for two sopranos and an ensemble of flute, percussion, strings, and electronics, Fenn's music captivates the listener, forcing us to reflect with intent. The two sopranos, Barbora Kabátková and Pavla Radostova, brilliantly navigate the demanding and theatrical writing, switching from independent virtuosic solo lines, to blending within the larger ensemble, to acting as one more-than-human combined vocal instrument - often supplemented with live electronics.

The cohesive success of the work is largely due to the fact that When Apathy is Betrayal is bookended by forceful drumming solos, inspired by Sri Lankan Kandyan drumming. The percussionists of Prague Modern, Štěpán Hon and Ladislav Bilan Jr., are able to seamlessly incorporate the style of these ancient traditions with Fenn's more stereotypical new music percussion writing.

Like the title implies, When Apathy is Betrayal wants us to struggle with how apathy distances people from one another. Even though Fenn includes samples from recent and specific protest movements, the work does an incredible job of presenting these important activist ideas in a timeless way. The focus is on the overall response to her posed questions. Rather than giving temporary solutions, Fenn forces us to sit with and confront the uncomfortable reality no matter our background. The literal effectiveness of Fenn's plea for active listening is still up for debate, especially within the typical audience for contemporary classical music. Despite this, promoting empathy and reflection is an even more important job of the activist-artist in today's world.


distributed via New Focus Recordings

© 2026 Brutal New Music Reviews

originally written and published 8 June 2026
please send any and all questions/comments/complaints/suggestions to:
brutalnewmusicreviews@gmail.com

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