PORT TALBOT — Actor Anthony Hopkins has signed a recording deal with Decca Classics for the release of his debut album, "Life Is a Dream." The album is scheduled for release on August 21, 2025.

"Life Is a Dream" will feature compositions Hopkins created over six decades. Hopkins, who is 88 years old, began playing the piano at the age of four and started composing music as a child. His debut single, "Bracken Road," was released on a Friday.

Hopkins composed "Bracken Road" in 1963 while working as a young actor at the Liverpool Playhouse. The track is inspired by his childhood memories of Margam in South Wales. Other compositions on the album draw from memories of Port Talbot, where he was born, as well as childhood visits to his grandfather, the cinema, and individuals close to him. He noted that his father was a baker. A track titled "My Fatherland" honors his early beginnings.

Philharmonia Orchestra performs the music on the album, conducted by Grammy-winning conductor Gustavo Dudamel. Hopkins received Oscars for his roles in "Silence of the Lambs" and "The Father." Hopkins said, "Music was my first desire, my first wish, 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. My whole life is a dream. Signing with Decca is the honour of a lifetime." He added, "It has been a true privilege to collaborate with the distinguished Philharmonia Orchestra and the virtuoso soloists, cellist Gregorio Nieto and classical pianist Sergio Tiempo. My deepest gratitude and respect go to maestro Gustavo Dudamel, whose artistry is an integral part of this musical journey. With the graceful precision of his baton, he transformed each note with profound and indelible meaning, creating a pictorial landscape that invites the listener to feel and imagine something uniquely personal."

Laura Monks, President of Decca, said, "It is such a privilege to have the great Sir Anthony Hopkins join Decca Classics. His depth of talent and classical music knowledge, honed over a lifetime, is a joy to celebrate with this new album."

Why It Matters

Anthony Hopkins, known for his acting career, is releasing his first album of musical compositions, a pursuit he states began in his childhood. This album represents a formal release of works he has composed over more than six decades. The involvement of Decca Classics and conductor Gustavo Dudamel indicates the professional recording and presentation of his musical contributions.