Anthony Hopkins to release first album of original compositions

Oscar-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins is set to unveil a new chapter in his remarkable career with the release of his first album of original classical compositions. The 88-year-old has signed with Decca Classics for Life Is a Dream, due for release on 21 August, featuring music he has written over the past six decades.  

The album's lead single, Bracken Road, has already been released. Hopkins said the nostalgic piece was inspired by memories of his childhood in Margam, near Port Talbot in south Wales, capturing the landscapes and atmosphere that shaped his early years. Although he is best known for his acclaimed acting career, Hopkins has long described music as his first passion, revealing that he has been composing since childhood.  

"Music was my first desire, my first wish," Hopkins said, adding that many of the compositions have stayed with him for decades before finally finding their place on a studio album. The recording features the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of Grammy-winning conductor Gustavo Dudamel, alongside pianist Sergio Tiempo and cellist Gregorio Nieto.  

Several works on Life Is a Dream draw on Hopkins' Welsh heritage, including My Fatherland, which he said was written to honour his humble beginnings. The collection also reflects memories of his family, childhood and the places that inspired him throughout his life.  

While this marks Hopkins' first full album devoted to his original compositions on Decca Classics, his interest in music is far from new. Over the years, he has composed concert works, and his waltz And the Waltz Goes On was famously premiered by Dutch violinist André Rieu in 2011, highlighting a lifelong creative pursuit that has often existed alongside his celebrated acting career.