FastItalian LearningSign in
PhrasesAt the CinemaChe bella colonna sonora!
A2informal

Che bella colonna sonora!

What a beautiful soundtrack!

Pronunciation

co-LON-na so-NO-ra — stress on second syllable of each word.

When to use it

Exclaim after a film when the music stood out. Common in post-film discussion. Italy has a rich tradition of film composition so music appreciation is culturally expected.

What it means

'Colonna sonora' (literally 'sound column') is the Italian term for a film score or soundtrack. Italy's film music tradition is exceptionally rich — composers like Ennio Morricone, Nino Rota and Piero Piccioni are internationally revered. Discussing film music is natural in Italian cinema conversation.

Variations

La musica si sposava perfettamente con le immagini.

The music paired perfectly with the images.

'Sposarsi' (to marry) — used metaphorically for perfect pairing.

Di chi è la colonna sonora?

Who did the soundtrack?

Ask when the music is impressive and you want to know the composer.

Ho cercato subito la colonna sonora su Spotify.

I immediately searched for the soundtrack on Spotify.

Modern reaction — very relatable for music lovers.

Mini Dialogue

— Che bella colonna sonora! Mi è rimasta in testa. — Sì, è di Jonny Greenwood — il chitarrista dei Radiohead. — Non lo sapevo! Ha uno stile molto originale. — Fa spesso colonne sonore per Paul Thomas Anderson. — Ora devo scaricarla.

— What a beautiful soundtrack! It's stuck in my head. — Yes, it's by Jonny Greenwood — the Radiohead guitarist. — I didn't know that! He has a very original style. — He often does soundtracks for Paul Thomas Anderson. — Now I have to download it.

Cultural Note

Ennio Morricone (1928–2020) is considered one of the greatest film composers of all time. His soundtracks for Sergio Leone's Westerns, 'Cinema Paradiso' and 'The Mission' are known worldwide and deeply beloved in Italy.