Anthony Hopkins – Composer, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Martin Seal. (Classic FM/Decca CFMD22) *** (From York Press)

Anthony Hopkins – Composer, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra/Martin Seal. (Classic FM/Decca CFMD22) ***

11:18am Friday 20th January 2012 in CD reviews By Martin Dreyer

ACTORS who compose are not unknown – Hugh Laurie and Steve Martin are two – but Sir Anthony has waited until his 75th year to bring out his light from under a bushel.

As part of its Festival of Film Music last July, the CBSO offered him a concert of his own works. This is the result, applause and all. As you might expect, these nine pieces (rather under 50 minutes in all) are atmospheric: three are actually cinematic sound-tracks.

Whether they deserve independent life is another question. Hopkins can write a decent tune, but mostly he likes to colour in background. He has some good ideas about orchestration, but no aptitude for changing key. A wordless choir – unidentified here – makes wistful appearances, and there are nostalgic solos for cello, piano and sax.

A Straussian waltz, evocations of his Welsh childhood, a three-movement suite ‘1947’, a tribute to his wife Stella: musical autobiography in all but name.