Anthony Hopkins, 88, releases debut album and announces Carnegie Hall concert
Sir Anthony Hopkins has released his debut album, Life is a Dream, and plans to perform at Carnegie Hall next year.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Sir Anthony Hopkins, the two-time Oscar-winning actor, has released his debut album at the age of 88. The record, titled Life is a Dream, is out on Decca Classics and features compositions he has written over six decades, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra. Hopkins, best known for roles such as Hannibal Lecter in The Silence of the Lambs, has long kept his musical side private. He began composing in the early 1960s and wrote a waltz while working at the Liverpool Playhouse in 1964.
In an exclusive interview, Hopkins spoke about his lifelong passion for music. He said he had wanted to go to music college but instead went to acting college, which was attached to the music college in Wales. He described himself as a failure and a dunce at school, but recalled a determination to prove himself. He also spoke of his Welsh roots, saying he thinks about Wales all the time and uses Google Maps to revisit streets from his childhood. He used the Welsh word "hiraeth" to describe his longing for home.
Hopkins also discussed his wife Stella, who sent one of his waltzes to the violinist André Rieu without telling him. Rieu later phoned Hopkins to say he had received the fully orchestrated piece. Hopkins said he had no idea his wife had done it.
The actor, who has been sober for 50 years, spoke candidly about his past alcoholism, describing it as a severe case of life or death. He said he chose life and that life then chooses you.
Hopkins confirmed he plans to perform at Carnegie Hall next year, saying he would do a concert there. He admitted to feeling imposter syndrome, but said if people like the music, they like it, and if they don't, they don't.
The album is described as looking back at his Welsh roots. Hopkins has won two Oscars, an Emmy, four BAFTAs and a Laurence Olivier Award.
On screen
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Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Anthony Hopkins composed a waltz in 1964 at the Liverpool Playhouse. | |
| Anthony Hopkins plans to perform at Carnegie Hall next year. | |
| Anthony Hopkins released a debut album. | |
| Hopkins has been composing music privately since the early 1960s. | |
| Hopkins has been sober for 50 years. | |
| Hopkins is a double Oscar, double Emmy, four-time BAFTA and Laurence Olivier Award recipient. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
This broadcast leads with a murder trial before turning to Hopkins, framing the album release as a surprising career change at 88. It highlights his initial disbelief at the record deal, his early musical ambitions, and the anecdote about his wife sending his waltz to André Rieu. The piece also includes his comments on imposter syndrome and his Carnegie Hall plan.
- “What does it mean to you to have a record deal? Well, it's beyond my belief really.”
- “The Silence of the Lambs star has actually been composing music privately since the early 60s.”
- “Are you going to tour the album? Is Sir Anthony Hopkins going to go on tour? Deep inside there's that little niggling voice called the imposter syndrome.”
This broadcast focuses on the album's details, including its title and label, and connects it to Hopkins's Welsh heritage. It also covers his sobriety and the Carnegie Hall announcement, and points viewers to the full interview on YouTube. The tone is more factual and celebratory, emphasising the album's six decades of compositions.
- “His first album, called Life is a Dream, has been released by Decca Classics.”
- “It features six decades of his compositions, performed by the Philharmonic Orchestra, and looks back at his Welsh roots.”
- “I'm going to do a concert there one day. Do a concert there one day. Next year.”
This broadcast stresses Hopkins's long list of acting awards and frames the album as a return to his first love, music. It uses the Welsh word 'hiraeth' to underline his emotional connection to Wales, and gives significant time to his struggle with alcoholism and his 50 years of sobriety. The tone is reflective, linking his personal resilience to his artistic output.
- “And there is a word in Welsh for that, hiraeth.”
- “You've been, what was it, 50 years sober. Yeah.”
- “I have a choice. Do I want to live, or do I want to die? Two doors. Chose life.”
Broadcast Timeline
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