Post by Helen Rogers

The cat’s out the bag… Welcome to Decca Classics, Sir Anthony Hopkins! Hopkins’ upcoming album of his original classical compositions is a testament to his lifelong devotion to classical music, from his earliest years discovering Beethoven’s works on the second hand piano his mother bought him. It’s been a thrilling ride helping to bring Sir Anthony to Decca, working closely with his team, and ours, following the extraordinary and moving sessions for the album which took place in April at Alexandra Palace, London. That was the first time Sir Anthony was hearing some of these works performed, some of which he has carried with him for many decades. The recording features a star cast: Maestro Gustavo Dudamel conducts the Philharmonia Orchestra, with solos from pianist Sergio Tiempo and cellist Gregorio Nieto, and some rousing choral moments from The Bach Choir and The Boy Choristers of Winchester Cathedral. Credit also to the award-winning team behind the recording: producer Stephen Barton with recording concept design and mixing by Kirsty Whalley and Peter Cobbin, editing by Mark Rogers, and recorded by Mark with Jonathan Stokes and Mike Cox. The first single, ‘Bracken Road’, which draws on memories of his home town of Margam in South Wales, is out now. Richard Morrison was spot on, describing it in The Times as ‘a misty, mellow and mellifluous four and a half minutes of orchestral writing, beautifully easy on the ear’. Listen here: https://lnkd.in/e5ifp_8M https://lnkd.in/em5J7BDE