89-year-old Anthony Hopkins, an album capturing 60 years of musical life

Another Name for Actor Anthony Hopkins: Classical Composer

Actor Anthony Hopkins (89), a two-time Academy Award winner for Best Actor for the films 'The Silence of the Lambs' and 'The Father', is stepping before the public as a composer. The world-renowned classical label Decca Classics announced that it has signed an exclusive contract with Hopkins and will release his new album, 'Life Is a Dream', a culmination of his musical life, on August 21.

His musical journey dates back to when he began learning the piano at the age of four, long before he became known as an actor. Having shown musical talent by performing works of Beethoven and Chopin in his childhood, he began composing music for local plays in his teens. Even after building global fame as an actor, music remained a part of his life. He continued his identity as a musician by composing the music for the films he directed, 'August' (1996) and 'Slipstream' (2007).

This album is a project that gathers orchestral works written over the course of 60 years. Hopkins stated, "Music was my first dream and my first aspiration," adding, "My entire life is like a single dream."

60 Years of Melodies Unfolding Under the Baton of Gustavo Dudamel

To ensure the album's perfection, masters of the classical world participated. Venezuelan conductor Gustavo Dudamel took the podium, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra providing the performance. During the recording sessions held at Alexandra Palace in London last April, Dudamel remarked of Hopkins' music, "The imagination and humanity he has shown on stage and screen are captured perfectly in his music as well."

The tracks reflect Hopkins' roots and affection for his family. The pre-released single 'Bracken Road' was composed while reminiscing about the streets, fields, and mountains of the Margam area in Wales where he spent his childhood. It was completed based on a melody born while he was improvising on a backstage piano before rehearsals during his time as an actor at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1963.

The album also includes tributes to his family. It features 'My Fatherland', which honors his origins as the 'son of a baker', 'Stella Aria', dedicated to his wife, and 'Tara', written for his niece. Additionally, 'And the Waltz Goes On', a piece he composed in his youth, will be released to the world for the first time in 50 years. Hopkins added, "Some pieces have stayed by my side for decades, and I find myself returning to them even now."

Regarding the contract with Decca Classics, Hopkins stated, "Signing with Decca is a lifelong honor."