The 2Cellos duo Luka Sulic and Stjepan Hauser gave a spectacular performance at the Mohegan Sun arena for an audience full of enthusiastic fans. Known for taking the seemingly classical elegant cello to another level the two who were joined halfway through the performance by drummer, Dusan Kranjc, upped the tempo and once again proved that they have the capability to take well known songs to new heights.
They opened the night with U2’s “Where the Streets Have No Name.” The first eight numbers were more sedate but absolutely perfectly performed by the duo. From ballads to AC/DC they can do it all and do it well.
They are obviously both very comfortable on stage and Luka Sulic mostly stays in his seat as he plays and is a bit of the straight man. On the other hand the animated Stjepan Hauser starts off acting both quiet, coy and shy before shedding his shell and dancing across the stage from end to end cello in hand furiously playing. At one point Hauser lays on the stage on his back without missing a beat or stroke of the bow to the cheers from the audience.
There is very little singing during the performance, save what the audience provides for each song with encouragement and hand waving by Hauser. Many of the songs have previously put to video by the duo and as an accompaniment to the performance they were projecting them in costume on the screen behind as they played live. The amazing thing is they take some very well known songs and twist it to an unexpected result performed on a cello. Not elevator music by any means.
The duo’s performance of Leonard Cohen’s “Hallelujah” as the encore leaves the audience with a simply wonderful end to the night.
The 2CELLOS is one of those concerts that you need to see at least once to get the real feel for how good the duo is and how they excel at playing their instrument. They could have gone the traditional route and played with a symphony their entire lives and been magnificent. Instead they stood cello music on it’s ear and never looked back. I for one am glad they bucked tradition and judging by the reception at Mohegan Sun many others agree. See the for sure if you get the chance.
Where the Streets Have No Name (U2 cover)
Viva la Vida (Coldplay cover)
Shape of My Heart (Sting cover)
Resistance (Muse cover)
With or Without You (U2 cover)
Human Nature (Michael Jackson cover)
Smooth Criminal (Michael Jackson cover)
Thunderstruck (AC/DC cover)
Drum Solo
Eye of the Tiger (Survivor cover)
Voodoo People (The Prodigy cover)
Seven Nation Army (The White Stripes cover)
You Shook Me All Night Long (AC/DC cover)
Highway to Hell (AC/DC cover)
Satisfaction (The Rolling Stones cover)
Back in Black (AC/DC cover)
The Trooper (Iron Maiden cover)
Encore:
Wake Me Up (Avicii cover)
Hurt (Nine Inch Nails cover)
Hallelujah
