RFI's 'Écouter le monde' presents a sonic inventory of pleasant everyday sounds

On September 4, 2026, RFI's weekly radio program and participatory platform 'Écouter le monde' aired an episode titled 'Prêter l’oreille – Quelques sons agréables' (Lending an Ear – Some Pleasant Sounds). The episode, conceived, edited, and produced by Monica Fantini, offers a curated collection of field recordings submitted to the platform, celebrating the often-overlooked pleasant sounds of daily life. Featured recordings include a concert of car horns in Cairo by Vincent Battesti, orchestral dress rehearsals in Algiers by Claude Vittiglio, a thunderstorm in Topolò by Luca Rullo, footsteps of a Parisian woman by Michel Créis, an Armenian prayer by Claude Vittiglio, and a lullaby from Timor by Xabier Erkizia. Fantini, who also leads sound workshops for diverse audiences including teachers, children, students, migrants, prisoners, poets, and musicians, aims to develop the practice, meaning, and pleasure of listening. Her sound creations are regularly presented at festivals, exhibitions, conferences, and cultural events. The episode's sound recording and co-production were handled by Laurence Allanic and Pascal Boungo of RFI's Unité de création. 'Écouter le monde' is available on all podcast platforms, including Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, and Spotify.