#107 — Les trémolos du Svalbard, avec Yann Tiersen et Coline Béal
Summary
Composer Yann Tiersen and director Coline Béal sail to Svalbard to explore the accelerating impacts of climate change through a blend of music and journalism. They record the sounds of nature and interview scientists who express deep concern over environmental loss, aiming to evoke emotional awareness beyond raw data. The crew encounters polar bears, whales, and glaciers while performing live improvisations in the Arctic landscape. This journey forms the basis of the documentary *Polar Sonic* and influences Tiersen’s ongoing musical work.
Topics discussed
Sponsors and podcast introduction
Project overview: Musical journalism in Svalbard
Meet the crew: Yann, Coline, Anna, and Lucy
Departure from Inverness and initial voyage
Passing through Lofoten and arriving in Tromsø
First encounter with glaciers and icebergs
First live improvisation in the cockpit
Arrival in Longyearbyen and human presence
Interview with Roman in Barentsburg
Scientific base Ny-Ålesund and emotional interviews
Life aboard and the rhythm of the expedition
Recording nature sounds and whale encounters
Improvising music among ice plates
Reaching the 80th parallel and Moffin Atoll
Recording murre colonies and searching for bears
Watching polar bears from the boat
Playing piano on deck near a glacier
Reflections on harmony, nature, and optimism
Conclusion and credits
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