Anthony Hopkins to release first album of original compositions in August

Oscar-winning actor Anthony Hopkins is set to release his first album of original compositions after signing with Decca Classics, marking a new chapter in a musical journey that spans more than six decades.

Titled “Life Is a Dream”, the album will be released on August 21. It features original works composed by Hopkins and performed by the Philharmonia Orchestra under the baton of renowned conductor Gustavo Dudamel.

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Ahead of the album’s release, Hopkins unveiled the first single, “Bracken Road”, on Friday. The piece is taken from “1947: Suite for Solo Piano and Orchestra” and is inspired by the actor’s childhood memories of Margam, South Wales, reflecting the landscapes and surroundings of his family home during the 1940s.

Although celebrated worldwide for his acting career, Hopkins has nurtured a lifelong passion for music. According to Decca Classics, he began playing the piano at the age of four, performed works by Beethoven and Chopin as a child and started composing music for local theatre productions during his teenage years.

“Music was my first desire, my first wish,” Hopkins said in a statement. “I’ve been composing music all my life. Some of these pieces have lived with me for decades and I still find myself returning to them.”

The album also includes “My Fatherland”, inspired by traditional Welsh melodies, alongside compositions influenced by cinema and members of Hopkins’ family.

A self-taught composer, Hopkins previously received the Classic Brit Award for Album of the Year in 2012 for his contribution to “And the Waltz Goes On”. In 2025, he made his live performance debut as a composer in Saudi Arabia with the “Life Is a Dream” concert, performed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

Reflecting on his partnership with Decca Classics, Hopkins described the opportunity as “the honour of a lifetime” and praised Dudamel, the Philharmonia Orchestra, cellist Gregorio Nieto and pianist Sergio Tiempo for bringing his compositions to life.

Dudamel, in turn, hailed Hopkins as “one of those rare artists whose creative voice transcends any single medium”, saying the actor’s music reflects the same imagination and emotional depth that have defined his acclaimed work on screen.

Decca Classics president Laura Monks said the label was honoured to welcome Hopkins, describing his compositions as the product of a lifetime of musical knowledge and creativity.