Anthony Hopkins Signs with Decca Classics for August Album Release
10 reported
Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins has signed with Decca Classics for a new recording project featuring his original compositions from more than six decades. The album, titled “Life Is a Dream,” will be released on August 21 and is conducted by Gustavo Dudamel, performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra. The first single, “Bracken Road,” from Hopkins’ “1947: Suite for Solo Piano and Orchestra,” was released on Friday. According to Decca, the piece is inspired by childhood memories of Margam, South Wales, and depicts the streets, meadows, farmland, and mountains surrounding his family home in the 1940s. Hopkins, 88, has played piano since age 4 and began performing Beethoven and Chopin a few years later, composing music for local plays as a teenager. He received a Classic Brit Award in 2012 for Album of the Year for his contribution to “And the Waltz Goes On,” and made his live musical performance debut in Saudi Arabia in 2025 with the “Life Is a Dream” concert played by Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
What’s reported
Anthony Hopkins signed with Decca Classics for a recording project of his original compositions spanning over six decades.
The album “Life Is a Dream” is conducted by Gustavo Dudamel and performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra.
The album will be released on August 21.
The first single, “Bracken Road,” from “1947: Suite for Solo Piano and Orchestra,” was released Friday.
“Bracken Road” is inspired by childhood memories of Margam, South Wales, from the 1940s.
Hopkins has played piano since age 4 and performed Beethoven and Chopin a few years later.
He composed music for local plays as a teenager.
Hopkins received a Classic Brit Award in 2012 for Album of the Year for “And the Waltz Goes On.”
He made his live musical performance debut in Saudi Arabia in 2025 with the “Life Is a Dream” concert by Britain’s Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
The album includes pieces inspired by traditional Welsh melodies, cinema, his wife, and his niece.
Key figures
Anthony Hopkins, actor and composer
Gustavo Dudamel, conductor
Philharmonia Orchestra, performing ensemble
Gregorio Nieto, cellist
Sergio Tiempo, classical pianist
Laura Monks, president of Decca
Sources: Variety
