In 2000 his Academy Award-winning score for '' La Vita è bella '' ( '' Life Is Beautiful '' ) was further nominated for a Grammy Award in the " Best Instrumental Composition Written for a Motion Picture , Television or Other Visual Media " category , losing to Randy Newman . In 2005 he was a member of the jury at the 27th Moscow International Film Festival . In light of his recent work with French directors , notably Danièle Thompson , Philippe Lioret , and Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt , the French Minister of Culture gave him the title of '' Chevalier '' ( Knight ) of the '' Ordre des Arts et des Lettres '' on 21 May 2008 at the Cannes Film Festival . To date , Piovani has over 130 film scores to his credit , including films such as '' Slap the Monster on Page One '' ( 1972 ) , '' The Perfume of the Lady in Black '' ( 1974 ) , '' Flavia the Heretic '' ( 1974 ) , '' Le Orme '' ( 1975 ) , '' A Leap in the Dark '' ( 1980 ) '' The Night of the Shooting Stars '' ( 1982 ) , and " Kaos " ( 1984 ) . The music for the latter is considered by many as one of the best film scores ever done . However , he is reported to believe that " Too many film scores make a composer a hack , but in the theatre music is above all craftsmanship " . Accordingly , he continues to work in musical theatre , and also composes concert and chamber music
27th Moscow International Film Festival
27th Moscow International Film Festival
Nicola Piovani