Despite the general strike in Belgium and the European Summit at the Council of EU, yesterday, 2Cellos performed in Palais 12 at a concert which was totally sold out (all 15,000 seats). The audience consisting of all ages wasn’t only delighted by the musical virtuosity which played out during the hour and a half show, but also enjoyed dancing and singing together with the famous Croatian cellists.
The duo was joined on stage, as usual, by Croatian drummer Dusan Kranjc.
2Cellos performing at Palais12 in Brussels (Image: Mira Dujela)
It was a difficult farewell for the audience, but the two musicians had already communicated several times they have both taken different paths. Luka is more of a family man now, with three children and a wife, and Hauser continues to be ambitious, full of ideas and eager to keep going, conquering the world and playing his music everywhere. Having different approaches to life, they thought it was best to take separate paths but will still remain great friends.
2Cellos performing at Palais12 in Brussels (Image: Mira Dujela
The two Croatian cellists are known for performing famous songs by U2, Leonard Cohen, Guns N’ Roses, Michael Jackson and Nirvana, and are now touring to promote their sixth full-length studio album called “Dedicated.” They have also recently released an extended edition of “Dedicated” that features three brand new bonus tracks — covers of Ed Sheeran’s “Castle on the Hill,” the Beatles’ “Yesterday”, and Linkin Park’s “Castle of Glass”. They won three Porin awards (Croatia’s version of the Grammys) and received the prestigious Order of Danica Hrvatska in their homeland with this last album.
2Cellos performing at Palais12 in Brussels (Image: Mira Dujela)
When Stjepan Hauser and Luka Šulić began studying the cello during their youth in Croatia, they had no idea they’d be recording rock ‘n’ roll classics, playing to sold-out arenas and collaborating with music giants like Elton John and other pop icons.
They met as teenagers, as both studied at the Academy of Music in Zagreb, then again later at different schools in England. Though the cello wasn’t a favoured instrument even in the classical world, they both liked it and felt the drive to play well and bring the cello the respect they thought it deserved, not just limiting it to one kind of music. Using Hauser’s words: “We wanted to make it [the cello] feel younger, and we wanted to feel like rock stars, ’cause we were young and rebellious, and we wanted to feel this freedom and do whatever we wanted to do.”
Both have worked independently during the past 12 years, and as they part ways, Hauser, in particular, is ready to go all in with his own solo career.
2Cellos performing at Palais12 in Brussels (Image: Mira Dujela)
More dates will follow in the UK, Spain, Croatia (in Zagreb on 19 September), Italy, Japan, Australia and the last will be held in New Zealand on 4 December. Check the remaining dates on their website.
2Cellos performing at Palais12 in Brussels (Image: Mira Dujela)
We don’t want to reveal the concert’s finale, which for Croats living abroad is exceptionally touching! So, give yourself this gift and go and listen to this magnificent duo.
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