Academy Award-winning actor Sir Anthony Hopkins has signed with Decca Classics to release a new album of original compositions titled Life Is a Dream. The project, which spans more than six decades of his personal creative work, is scheduled for release on August 21 and features the Philharmonia Orchestra under the direction of conductor Gustavo Dudamel.
A Lifetime of Composition
While widely recognized for his work in cinema, Hopkins has been composing music since childhood. According to Decca Classics, the 88-year-old actor began playing piano at age four and started writing music for local plays during his teenage years.
The upcoming album showcases a wide range of his work, including:
- "Bracken Road": The first single, released on Friday, is part of his "1947: Suite for Solo Piano and Orchestra." The piece is inspired by his childhood in Margam, South Wales.
- "My Fatherland": A composition drawing from traditional Welsh melodies.
- Personal Works: The album includes pieces dedicated to his wife and niece, as well as compositions inspired by cinema.
Collaboration with Gustavo Dudamel
The recording sessions in London brought together Hopkins and conductor Gustavo Dudamel, alongside cellist Gregorio Nieto and pianist Sergio Tiempo.
"The same depth of imagination, humanity, and emotional truth that has defined his extraordinary work on stage and screen is present in his music," Dudamel said in a statement provided by the label. He noted that Hopkins approaches music with the instincts of a poet, creating sound worlds that are deeply personal.
For his part, Hopkins described the signing as an "honor of a lifetime." He credited the Philharmonia Orchestra and the featured soloists for bringing his long-held musical ideas to fruition, noting that some of these pieces have been with him for decades.
Musical Background and Recognition
This project is not Hopkins’ first venture into the classical music world. He is a self-taught composer who received a Classic Brit Award in 2012 for Album of the Year for his contribution to And the Waltz Goes On.
His musical journey also includes live performances. He made his live musical performance debut in 2025, featuring a concert performance of Life Is a Dream with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Saudi Arabia.
Laura Monks, president of Decca, stated that the label was eager to bring these compositions to the world, highlighting the actor’s extensive classical music knowledge and the "once in a lifetime" experience of witnessing his work come to life during the London recording sessions.