Zero: The Climate Race Do artists have a duty to be political? Imagine series
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Feb 12, 2026 Julia Wolfe, Pulitzer Prize–winning composer known for large-scale works and the climate oratorio unEarth, discusses using orchestra, voice and text to explore climate and habitat loss. She explains the three movements—Flood, Forest, and a protest-like finale. Conversation covers research, shifting meanings over time, using words with music, and collaborating with performers and youth voices.
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Music As Present-Day Reflection
- Julia Wolfe frames Unearth as a present-day reflection on humanity's relationship with nature rather than a historical piece.
- She uses musical textures to evoke flooding and the physical sensations of natural phenomena.
Literal Sound To Evoke Nature
- Wolfe composes literal sonic gestures (waves, creaks) to make listeners feel floods and forests.
- These orchestral textures aim to translate physical natural experiences into musical form.
Politics Shapes Reception, Not The Work
- Wolfe says the U.S. political retreat on climate makes grassroots efforts harder but highlights ongoing advocacy work.
- She credits friends and advocates for keeping climate action in her consciousness and stresses infrastructure change over individual fixes.
