232 - Volker Bertelmann and the Music of Conclave

Dolby Creator Talks

Academy Award®-winning composer Volker Bertelmann joins guest host Jon Burlingame to discuss his tense and atmospheric score for “Conclave,” directed by Edward Berger. Nominated for his third Oscar, Bertelmann — who won in 2023 for Berger’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” — shares how he crafted the film’s unique musical palette, eschewing the sounds of traditional church music in favor of experimental instruments like the Cristal Baschet. He also discusses his approach to scoring thrillers as well as his deep collaboration with Berger.

“[Edward Berger’s] feeling is that music is a third dimension, in a way. That it's something that adds a layer to the film… You can create links to scenes, but you can also use music detached from what you see… You can use it in areas where it's already starting to give someone a feeling, that you don't see in the scene, but somehow… undercurrent-ly… starts to rise… What I think Edward works a lot with is building tension up, but then cutting the music pretty hard, into silence. And then you're left in the silence. But the moment where it's cut is very important… It is intentionally being cut at a certain moment, and then there is maybe a natural sound where you suddenly feel much closer to the person than you felt before, because you are alone with a person in silence.”

—Volker Bertelmann, Composer, “Conclave”

Be sure to check out “Conclave,” now in theaters and available to stream in Dolby Vision® and Dolby Atmos®.

Volker Bertelmann’s soundtrack to “Conclave” is also available to stream on Apple Music in Dolby Atmos.

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