Live at Arena Zagreb

Sometimes something so wonderful appears that it strikes a chord and resonates in us all. This happened when Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser came together and formed 2CELLOS. Both classically trained and with individual musical careers, their meteoric rise to fame came just days after their cover of "Smooth Criminal" became a hit on YouTube. Within two weeks, the video received over three million views and has been watched over ten million times to date. The brilliant video showed music played in a way we have never seen or heard before, filled with electricity and passion, intensity and energy by two very attractive young men. It's believable (until you see it for yourself) that such powerful rock concert sounds come from 2 cellos complimenting one another in such a way.The impression and impact of their brilliant unveiling came immediately after the popularity of the video. Through the Royal Academy of Music, where Sir Elton John himself was once a student, contact was made and within days the 2CELLOS were booked on tour with him. They had no idea what was to follow and they received more attention than they ever expected. Calls and offers came flooding in and soon they were signed to Sony MASTERWORKS. Since then the duo has barely had time to stand still.For the critics in the readership, do not be fooled by their youth or their good looks. Šulić studied at the Academy of Music in Zagreb and later entered London's Royal Academy of Music. Hauser completed his studies at Trinity College in London and then attended attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Both have performed all over the globe at venues such as Royal Albert Hall, Vienna's Musikverein and Konzerthaus, London's Wigmore Hall, South Bank Centre and Amsterdam's Concertgebouw. They have been heard in Japan, the United States, South America, most European countries, South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. There are over 25 international prizes between them including the prestigious Adam Cello Competition, VII Lutoslawski International Cello Competition and VTB Capital Prize for Young Cellists. They know how to bring it and like other historic musicians and composers, they test the limits of their instruments with each performance.This DVD is evidence of both their talent and masterful technique. They are fueled by immense passion for music and display a rare virtuosity when commanding their instruments. The way they play stretches the limits of possibility for what these instruments can accomplish and they dominate their cellos with absolute precision like confidence and a fierce elegance as can be seen in Resistance. Stjepan Hauser himself says that Luka Šulić's arm is like a machine gun.What we witness during this concert is the cello being resurrected before us. Watching them get lost in their music, we too get carried away to places of disbelief where we'll say to ourselves "I cannot believe what I just saw and heard." Their performance style is truly marvelous and 2CELLOS are sure to leave a legacy we'll long remember. I am convinced that they will be celebrated as the virtuostic duo that built bridges between musical genres by showing the world the limitless and artistic possibilities of this beautiful instrument.We were fortunate enough to see 2CELLOS perform live in Orlando, Florida where they filled the house with audience members with ages ranging from 3 to 93. An interesting surprise was that they invited to the stage Emil and Dariel (13 and 16) known on YouTube as The Liakhovetski Bros and announced to the world that they are "2CELLOS Junior". Paying back the incredible opportunity that Elton John bestowed upon them, they allowed the boys to play and then joined them in Smells Like Teen Spirit, a rendition we will remember for ever. Emil & Dariel showed that they too have the makings of concert level performers and I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more from them in the future. So, BRAVO to 2CELLOS for paying it forward in this way. After the show they stayed for hours, personally meeting with fans, signing CD's and taking photographs. Something that is not common these days! A quick visit to their twitter page @2CELLOS and you can see the interaction with their fans, where the numbers of followers grows each day.During the musical display we were privileged to witness, I noticed that older grandmothers were tapping their feet to Highway to Hell while little ones dreamily connected with Elegie in C Minor, Op. 24, holding their parents' hands as if they were being led down a pathway of curiosity and magic. In their portrayal of modern hits such as Welcome to the Jungle, Purple Haze, Back in Black and With or Without You, we heard music, sound and technique in a completely different way. Who every would have guessed that these instruments had such a power to rock? And more so, that such extremely talented players could bring it together in this way, unleashing the very essence of the music onto the attentive crowd through only two instruments backed up with the powerful beats of Dušan Kranjc on drums.The global attention they have received thus far only proves that the world is hungry for a new kind of sound, one where the music can be used to unite young and old and move us all together under one rhythm; a potent force with the power to make you feel invincible, alive and recharged. This beautifully filmed DVD shows them in all of their glory. You get a front stage peek at musical history being made. Stjepan and Luka do not play cello, they ARE cello and they merge with their instruments much like currents mix with the seas with both the turbulence of a hurricane and the calm after the storm. In short, they are a force and their power and passion is both contagious and inspirational.Do yourself a favor and buy this DVD now. Watch it with your whole family and come together through the music that these two über talented virtuosos create. Young and old, classical, alternative or rock genres, 2CELLOS have something for everyone to enjoy and be moved by.

There is no such thing as a 'casual 2CELLOS fan.' Either you're crazy about them, or you don't yet know they exist.Like most of the best things that have happened to me in my life, I stumbled across this dynamic Croatian duo quite by accident. I started playing cello as an adult about a year ago after an epiphany, followed by a catharsis, on the side of the interstate. I heard the Elgar cello concerto on the radio, and it opened my heart WIDE. The siren song of the cello called to me, and the next day, when someone out of the blue asked me if I wanted to buy a cello, I ran into the arms of this, the most beautiful of all the instruments.As part of my journey with my new love, cello, I naturally began seeking out cello music, listening to a variety of cellists; du Pre, Maisky, Ma, and of course the greatest of the great, Rostropovich. While educating myself on the legends via YouTube, I noticed another sweet face that I had never seen before, one wickedly handsome and expressively talented Stjepan Hauser.Thirty seconds into the first time of ever hearing Stjepan play, I was a churning tornado of emotion and physical sensation. Tears were running down my face, I was laughing, I was restless to the point of needing to pace, and I had this incredible warm and fluttering sensation in my heart, like the wings of tiny birds beating against my rib cage...like being in love! With thirty seconds of Dvorak, Stjepan had deposed Slava as my favorite cellist, not an easy accomplishment, I assure you.I watched all the classical performances of Stjepan I could find in my daily YouTube searches. It was probably two weeks before I realized that all of these '2CELLOS' videos popping up when I searched for 'Stjepan Hauser' might actually be related. (Sometimes I can be so focused and literal to the point of stupidity.) As luck would have it, the first video I watched of 2CELLOS was the one that launched them into the spotlight, their powerful arrangement of Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.It was like someone kicked open all the doors in my mind that I had established about cello music, letting in the sunlight of new and exciting possibilities! A true paradigm shift of musical discovery! And who was this angelic creature playing opposite my impish Stjepan?! The simple perfection of elegance that is Luka Sulic's playing style soon took it's rightful place in my heart next to the layered dance of complex emotion of Stjepan Hauser. The two styles, though very different to my ears, complimented one another so perfectly...Luka is the sweet cream to Stjepan's rich cocoa. If there has ever been such a thing as 'cello soul mates' in this World, Sulic and Hauser are the embodiment of the concept.Though their two CDs, 2CELLOS and In2ition (also available through Amazon), are among my most precious music, nothing compares to actually SEEING them perform. They are absolutely mesmerizing! During live performance, they can be more mercurial than the changes in the weather! One moment they are so beautiful in prayerful peace as they play Karl Jenkins' Benedictus from The Armed Man, the next they are like gorgeous skulking tigers taking prey in the humid night as they play Welcome to the Jungle by Guns and Roses, but always they are perfectly matched, driving one another to even greater heights of expertise, emotion, and energy!With the addition of respected jazz drummer, Dusan Kranjc, the whole 2CELLOS experience expands exponentially! Not only does fellow Croatian, and cutie, Dusan, posses the rhythmic precision required to please two classically trained cellists, but his nuclear performances sometimes destroy even his own drum kit with their exuberance! The end product of this new mixture of cellists and percussion is as breathtaking as it is addicting!In October, I drove for more than three hours to see them live in Hershey, Pennsylvania. In November, I drove for more than six hours to see their US debut with orchestra with the Kentucky Symphony Orchestra in Florence, Kentucky. If they add 2CELLOS tour dates in between their scheduled performances for Canada with Elton John in February, I will happily be driving a lot further to see them live again.If you can't make a live show, then this DVD of them playing their hearts out at home, in Zagreb, Croatia, is the next best thing. The audio artistry of Miro Vidovic of Morris Studios, who intuitively understands the complex translation of cello to recorded sound like none other, will have you feeling like your ears are savoring the musical equivalent of the finest tiramisu to ever touch your auditory palette. Not to mention the incredible expertise of MedVid Productions and the rest of the army of folks responsible for production and post production, including Luka and Stjepan themselves, who stay involved in all aspects of bringing their music to the people.Warning: You will never be the same after watching this DVD. You will be entertained by the explosive performances. Your heart will be touched to the point of tears by the poignancy of the music. You will be inspired by the chemistry, friendship, and love between these two World Class cellists. And your mind will be opened to all the new and exciting possibilities that exist within four vibrating strings and a resonating wooden box. No, you will never be the same, but trust me, you won't miss the old you.

Everyone will find something to love about this performance -- several things most likely -- but few will like all the song choices. This is a description not a criticism; their music choices are that eclectic. They range from "Eligie in C Minor" by Faure to "Viva la Vida" by Cold Play, from "Benedictus" to "Highway to Hell" and many others in between. My personal favorites are Sulic soloing with the orchestra in the "Eligie" and the two of them rocking their hearts out in Jimi Heldrix' "Purple Haze."No matter which ones you prefer, the performances are done with both passion and precision. Hauser's sometimes over-the-top body language makes you wonder how he can play so well but he does. Sulic does a percussive bowing on some of the rock numbers that is just amazing. Set back and enjoy but be prepared to rise and applaud because it's hard to resist.The only reasonable priced source for this when I ordered was in Australia and it took almost 2 weeks to arrive but it was worth it!

This seems to be an earlier video of 2 Cellos but I had never seen it. I'm a big fan so I was thrilled. I enjoy these talented young men and love their music, especially Stjepan Hauser who is so creative and fun. I think anyone who enjoys these guys and their music will not be disappointed.

I dislike that the DVD is not a recent one. I thought it was.