June 1, 2022 - TCN attended the World Tour of 2Cellos in Brussels where the acclaimed classical-crossover duo, consisting of the extraordinary cellists Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser, gave a long goodbye to all their fans for their final tour together.

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.

For more, check out our lifestyle section

May 10, 2021 – Could social distancing-free concerts in Croatia begin next month?

In a recent radio show, Croatian Minister of Culture and MediaNina Obuljen Korzinek talked about allowing live events without the need for social distancing during the summer and the hurdles Croatia needs to overcome in order to make them possible.

Croatian Minister of Culture and Media Nina Obuljen Korzinek took part in a radio show by HRT recently. She talked about the expected return of concerts and other events to pre-pandemic conditions. According to her concerts without social distancing and mandatory masks might start happening again as soon as June. However, she also warned the decision to allow them will depend on the rate of vaccination among the citizens.

Live entertainment and event industries are suffering under the conditions of the COVID19 pandemic. Recent numbers of new infections allow cautious optimism as we draw closer to the summer. Unfortunately, there is still a long way to go to return these industries back to pre-COVID numbers.

What Can We Expect this Summer?

Minister Obuljen Korzinek pointed out that under current measures a maximum of 250 people can attend an event indoors, while the maximum number of participants for outdoor events is 500. Last summer, the number went up to 1000 people in outdoor events. While she expects even more lenient measures this summer, any decisions to announce them will have to wait for lower numbers of new infections and serious cases on a national level.

While vaccination rate is the most important factor in the push to combat the pandemic, the minister suggested young persons under the age of 18 might be allowed to attend concerts without being vaccinated. In these cases, they would instead do a rapid antigen test just before the event. Organisers can set up testing areas within or adjacent to the venues.

The Ministry is keeping an eye out for experiences with live events in other countries. Recently, we saw test concerts in Barcelona and Liverpool. Staying in touch with foreign colleagues and exchanging experiences is proving invaluable in this pandemic.

What remains is for the public to follow the measures in place and wait for the positive changes coming in the future.

For all you need to know about coronavirus specific to Croatia, including travel, border, and quarantine rules, as well as the locations of vaccination points and testing centres across the country, make sure to bookmark our dedicated COVID-19 section and select your preferred language.

TCN's Dave Gasson gives us a look into how Opatija's musical weekend went, and what is still to come across Croatia.

All proceeds will go to help purchase necessary equipment for Dubrovnik's General Hospital.

A performance with an instrument few have ever heard...

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