RIYADH: In a captivating blend of art and humanity, Hollywood icon Anthony Hopkins graced the Bakr Al-Shaddi Theater in Boulevard City, Riyadh, with a performance titled “Life is a Dream” as part of the Riyadh Season festivities.
Introduced by fellow actor Morgan Freeman, Hopkins opened his speech with the Arabic greeting, “As-salamu alaykum,” setting a tone of cultural respect and unity.
Hopkins shared his reflections on life and art, drawing from the words of Edgar Allan Poe: “I have always believed that all we see or seem is but a dream within a dream.”
He thanked Turki Al-Sheikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, for the invitation to perform in Riyadh.
“I am deeply humbled and immensely grateful to premiere my piece, ‘Life is a Dream,’ during Riyadh Season,” he said.
Reflecting on his life, he described the path from “the son of a simple baker” in South Wales to a world-renowned composer and actor.
“My life, to me, is a profound mystery,” he said. “It’s impossible to understand or take credit for the blessings I’ve been given. That’s why I believe life is a dream, and this piece, ‘Life is a Dream,’ was inspired by my dreamy childhood in South Wales, my wonderfully supportive mother and my father, who was larger than life and worked tirelessly throughout his life.”
Hopkins invoked the philosophy of Ralph Waldo Emerson, highlighting music and art as spiritual connectors.
“Music and art are paths to God, the primary means to connect all human souls. Emerson understood that touching one soul means touching all souls and I too believe that music is a transformative power,” he said.
“I always dreamed of being a composer, but I never knew how. Yet performing this concert in Saudi Arabia, the cradle of Islam, where Prophet Muhammad received his messages and home to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah is an unimaginable honor.”
Addressing global challenges, Hopkins stressed the importance of unity and peace.
“I cannot imagine a better place than here to come together, bridge our differences and envision a world of peace, balance and love,” he said.
“At 87 years old, I understand deeply that death is inevitable. But the theme of this concert is that life is a long farewell to everything we love, a prolonged goodbye, but one filled with forgiveness and wonder.”
Hopkins concluded by acknowledging the team that made the concert possible, giving special thanks to Rakan Al-Harthi, managing director of Sela, his music producer Stephen Barton, conductor Matthew Freeman, and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He ended his speech with “Shukran.”
Through this event, Hopkins not only showcased his musical talents but also made a lasting impression on Riyadh Season, emphasizing the unifying power of art and music in promoting tolerance, love and understanding across cultures.
