After captivating audiences for decades on the big screen, Sir Anthony Hopkins is stepping into a new spotlight—this time as a composer. The 88-year-old Academy Award winner has officially signed a recording deal with Decca Classics, marking the realization of what he calls his lifelong dream.

Hopkins’ debut album, Life Is a Dream, is set for release on August 21 and features a collection of original compositions he has written over the past 60 years. Ahead of the album’s launch, his first single, “Bracken Road,” arrives on Friday, offering listeners a deeply personal tribute to his childhood in Margam, South Wales.

Inspired by memories of the streets, meadows, farmland, and mountains surrounding his family home during the 1940s, “Bracken Road” reflects the landscapes that shaped Hopkins’ earliest years.

Reflecting on the milestone, Hopkins shared his excitement about finally bringing his music to audiences.

“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.”

The album features performances by Grammy Award-winning conductor Gustavo Dudamel and the Philharmonia Orchestra, alongside acclaimed soloists cellist Gregorio Nieto and classical pianist Sergio Tiempo.

Hopkins praised his collaborators, saying it had been a privilege to work with the renowned musicians and describing Dudamel’s interpretation as bringing every composition to life with remarkable artistry.

Although best known for his Oscar-winning performances in The Silence of the Lambs and The Father, Hopkins has been passionate about music since childhood. Born in Port Talbot, Wales, he began playing the piano at the age of four and has continued composing throughout his life.

One of the album’s standout tracks, “Bracken Road,” was originally composed in 1963 while Hopkins was a young actor performing at the Liverpool Playhouse.

Another composition, “My Fatherland,” serves as a heartfelt tribute to his Welsh roots. Hopkins explained that he wrote the piece to “honour my humble beginnings,” adding, “I am the son of my father, the baker.”

The remaining works on Life Is a Dream draw inspiration from treasured memories of Port Talbot, visits to his grandfather, the cinema that first sparked his imagination, and the people who have influenced his journey throughout life.

Welcoming Hopkins to the label, Laura Monks, President of Decca, described the partnership as a privilege, praising the actor’s lifelong dedication to classical music and celebrating the opportunity to share his compositions with audiences around the world.

Source: Various Sources.