Sir Anthony Hopkins, 88, is set to release his debut album, “Life Is a Dream,” a collection of 12 compositions he wrote over six decades. The acclaimed actor stated that music is his first love, or vocation, having been raised with significant musical influence in the postwar years. He began playing the piano at age 4, composing his first piece, a waltz, in 1960 when he was 22 years old.
Decca Records will release the album on August 21, just nine days from today. Gustavo Dudamel conducted the Philharmonia Orchestra for the recording, which took place at London’s Alexandra Palace four months ago in April. Hopkins admitted to moments of self-doubt during the creative process, describing it as “Impostor syndrome” when questioning his own authorship.
Creative Pursuits
Hopkins finds greater freedom in music compared to acting, which he characterizes as a disciplined art form requiring thorough preparation. Music, for him, represents a “freewheeling kind of art form.” He had previously composed scores for several films, including the opening of 1993’s “Shadowlands,” 33 years ago, where he also starred as C.S. Lewis. He later served as the principal composer for movies he directed and starred in, such as 1996’s “August,” 30 years ago, and 2007’s “Slipstream,” 19 years ago. The 2020 film “Elyse” also featured his compositions.
The album draws heavily from his childhood and life experiences in Wales. Hopkins explained that it reflects memories of his upbringing and adolescent years, acknowledging a profound sadness beneath his otherwise wonderful life. He described life as “one long goodbye,” a journey from birth towards death, a sentiment he delivered with a laugh.
Reflections and Collaborations
The first single, “1947: Suite for Solo Piano and Orchestra: ll. Bracken Road,” is the middle section of a three-part suite focusing on a specific summer in South Wales. Hopkins described the piece as containing “melancholy and sadness,” and the “welcomed sound of nostalgia, of the strange, whimsical pain of life.” He believes all music is fundamentally rooted in pain and yearning. Another song, “Stella Aria,” named for his wife, director and actor Stella Hopkins, addresses “the loneliness in all of us” but ultimately points toward “sheer happiness.”
Hopkins has also been reflecting on his life in his memoir, “We Did OK, Kid,” released last fall, alongside the album. He noted his upcoming 89th birthday at the end of the year, expressing gratitude for his long life and a lack of fear regarding mortality. He recalled deciding to become an actor 70 years ago, a path he couldn't have planned, attributing his success to a “force of nature” after being “pretty useless in school.”
Bradley Cooper facilitated Hopkins’ connection with Dudamel, having seen Hopkins’ composition performed by the Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Michael Seal, a few years prior. Dudamel readily agreed to the collaboration. During the Alexandra Palace recording session, Hopkins wondered how he had composed the music, while Dudamel praised it as “wonderful.” Hopkins described Dudamel as “one of the most astonishing people I’ve met,” full of life, energy, and love. Dudamel, in a statement, affirmed that Hopkins approaches music with the “heart of a storyteller and the instincts of a poet,” creating deeply personal and universally resonant sound worlds, reflecting the same depth of imagination and humanity seen in his acting.
Future Aspirations
Live performances may follow the album’s release, with Carnegie Hall topping Hopkins’ list of venues. He expressed a strong desire to perform there, recalling the formative 1947 film “Carnegie Hall” and his mother’s wish for him to play there one day.