HAUSER

Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser—known under the moniker HAUSER—was part of the first wave of classical musicians to find fame via YouTube. In 2009, HAUSER (born in Pula, Croatia, in 1986) and cellist Luka Šulić used the platform to share a performance of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal"; the clip quickly clocked up millions of views, and the duo went on to tour internationally as 2CELLOS. The twosome's six albums focus on virtuosic arrangements of pop songs, featuring everything from Avicii to Zucchero. Having undertaken a farewell tour with Šulić in 2022, HAUSER’s solo work includes an album of Ennio Morricone pieces performed with the Czech Studio Orchestra and Alone, Together, a series of concerts recorded across Croatia in 2020. Striking a balance between the traditional and the innovative, HAUSER plays both acoustic and hybrid cellos, favouring Yamaha's Silent Cello, which can be turned into an electronic instrument.