Life Is Beautiful (La Vita E Bella)
One of 1998's better soundtracks also follows the most simple of formulas. Nicola Piovani's score forLife Is Beautifulis an impressionistic soundtrack at its finest--a delicious mix that sounds inspired by both simple folk melodies and Morricone'sCinema Paradisoscore. Throughout, Piovani's themes are like a kid in candy store: bright-eyed and innocent. Tension is gradually introduced on tracks like "Il Treno Nel Buio," but ultimately this score is light and pleasant. The lone vocal cut, Monserrat Caballe singing on "Barcarolle," just makes this disc seem all the more Italian. Piovani hasn't created an epic score, but he has accentuated the difficult themes ofLife Is Beautifulexceptionally well.--James Hendrickson