2Cellos - The Iconic Croatian Cello Duo

2Cellos (stylized 2CΞLLOS) were a Croatian cellist duo, consisting of classically trained cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. Signed to Sony Masterworks in 2011, they released six albums. The duo played instrumental arrangements for cellos of well-known pop and rock songs, as well as classical and film music. The duo performed internationally and were featured on several American television series including Glee and The Bachelor (Sean and Catherine's Wedding). They continue to be active as solo performers.

Background

Hauser is from Pula, Croatia, and Šulić is from Maribor, Slovenia (born to a Croatian father and Slovenian mother). They met at a master class in Pula while still in their teens. They were both educated at the Academy of Music in Zagreb. Later on, Šulić studied in Vienna and they both studied in the UK (Šulić at London's Royal Academy of Music and Hauser at Trinity College of Music, now Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music in London and then at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester).

The duo rose to fame in 2011 after their cover of "Smooth Criminal" became a hit on YouTube, receiving over three million views in the first two weeks and almost 43 million views as of April 2021. One of Hauser's acquaintances in Croatia, a director, assisted in the creation of a video to "Smooth Criminal." The video features Šulić and Hauser facing off alone in a large ballroom littered with chairs, playing Jackson's tune. Before they became partners, the two cellists were sometimes considered rivals, competing against each other in music competitions.

Career

2Cellos signed to record with Sony Masterworks, and finished recording their first album in May 2011, which carried the Menart Records label in Croatia. Released on 19 July 2011, their eponymous debut album includes covers of songs by U2, Guns N' Roses, Nine Inch Nails, Sting, Coldplay, Nirvana, Muse, and Kings of Leon. The album also features a cello version of Michael Jackson's "Human Nature." The duo said that they chose songs that could be arranged as covers playable on just two cellos. In anticipation of the release, 2Cellos released their second single, "Welcome to the Jungle," a cover of the Guns N' Roses song of the same name.

Elton John asked the duo to appear with him on his 2011 summer tour, which began in Cardiff, Wales on 8 June. John personally called Šulić and said that he had watched the "Smooth Criminal" video and wanted 2Cellos to participate in his thirty-city tour. The two had previously performed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show of 25 April 2011. 2Cellos also performed at the 2011 iTunes Festival in London. They went on to perform internationally with Elton John and his band for five years, including hundreds of performances at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. They appear in The Million Dollar Piano movie filmed at the Colosseum in 2012 and on the 2013 album, The Diving Board.

The duo performed an arrangement of "Smooth Criminal" in the third season of the television show Glee. The episode in which they appeared, titled "Michael", aired on 31 January 2012, and was the first time that the series highlighted instrumental musicians. The scene featuring "Smooth Criminal" was set up similarly to 2Cellos' original music video for the song. On 4 June 2012 2Cellos performed with Elton John at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert at Buckingham Palace. On 12 June 2012, 2Cellos performed in front of a full Arena Zagreb audience. The concert was filmed for DVD: Live at Arena Zagreb.

Although the two usually record covers of rock songs, Šulić and Hauser said they still play with orchestras and will not abandon playing classical music. The cellists said they would someday like to go on tour with both a classical and a contemporary orchestra, a hope that was fulfilled in part during their tour for the album Score. Their second studio album, entitled In2ition, came out early in 2013, and featured new twists on a diverse range of classic tracks with a few surprise vocal and instrumental duet partners including Elton John, Lang Lang, Naya Rivera, Steve Vai, Sky Ferreira and Zucchero. The album was produced by Bob Ezrin.

Other tracks include covers of AC/DC's "Highway to Hell" featuring Vai, Coldplay's "Clocks" featuring Lang Lang, Muse's "Supermassive Black Hole" featuring Rivera, an Italian version of "The Book of Love" by The Magnetic Fields entitled "Il Libro Dell'Amore" featuring Zucchero, Karl Jenkins' "Benedictus", and "Oh Well" featuring Sir Elton.

In 2015, they released Celloverse, which included covers of popular songs like AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and Avicii's "Wake Me Up." Their fourth album, Score, recorded with the London Symphony Orchestra, was released in 2017 and featured a wide array of film and television music.

In 2018, they released Let There Be Cello, followed by Dedicated in 2021, further solidifying their place in the music industry.

Discography

• 2Cellos (2011, Sony Masterworks)

• In2ition (2013, Sony Masterworks)

• Celloverse (2015, Sony Masterworks)

• Score (2017, Sony Masterworks)

• Let There Be Cello (2018, Sony Masterworks)

• Dedicated (2021, Sony Masterworks)

Tours

2Cellos has embarked on numerous international tours, performing in Europe, the US, Canada, Japan, Australia, and Latin America. Their tours include:

• International Tours (2013-2015)

• CELLOVERSE Tour (2016)

• The Score World Tour (2017)

• Let There Be Cello Tour (2019)

• Dedicated World Tour (2022)

Conclusion

2Cellos has redefined the cello's role in contemporary music, blending classical training with modern influences. Their innovative arrangements and captivating performances have earned them a dedicated fan base and critical acclaim. As they continue to perform and release new music, 2Cellos remains a powerful force in the world of instrumental music. Experience their unique sound and artistry by exploring their discography and live performances.

Listen to 2Cellos's Albums in Lossless Audio via Streaming: HERE