Balkan cello: Luka Sulic and 2CELLOS

To avoid being too serious, I won't start by saying that Luca is unearthly handsome (as if it wasn't enough that he plays the cello like a poet and a hard rocker in one). The cello, which was somewhat unfairly overshadowed by a certain beautiful cellist, comes to life in the hands of this young god. It comes to life, screams, argues, and cries. In such a game, one can find a whole range of human experiences and emotions.

24-year-old Luca Sulic was born in Slovenia and began his musical education there, which he then continued at the Music Academy in Zagreb and Vienna. He is currently studying at the Royal Academy of Music in London. Despite his young age, Sulic is already considered an artist of international caliber. He has won many awards, including the first prize at the International Witold Lutoslawski Competition in 2009. Fans of classical music had the opportunity to get to know Sulic earlier, as he performed in many European concert halls. But it was thanks to YouTube that he reached a wider audience. In January 2011, together with Stjepan Hauser, he recorded a cover of Michael Jackson's "Smooth Criminal." The recording immediately became a "YouTube sensation." At the end of April, the duo performed their hit on The Ellen DeGeneres Show and confirmed the release of an album.

It must be admitted that the original Smooth Criminal is quite a successful piece confirming Jackson's talent. Only a good song can become material for an equally successful (because it brings something completely new) cover. It is hard not to notice that the young men of 2CELLOS have followed in their cello stylization in the same direction as Alien Ant Farm, bringing out the energy of the song, tinged with aggression. In both arrangements, the tempo is faster than the original. Instead of guitar riffs, we have dirty, sharp string "riffs," instead of crazy American suburban boys - a concert hall with overturned chairs. But the arrangement by Luka and Stjepan is not a scream of rebellion, just for the sake of screaming. It might seem that the listener is not the recipient of this musical explosion, but that this musical scream is trapped between the instruments. The musicians lead a conversation with each other through the strings (sometimes with a quiet voice), argue, and even fight. A spinning cello does not have to be an artistic show-off, but an attempt to go beyond the catalog of musical expressions. After all, it is a story of a masculine brawl...

What is truly remarkable about this recording is the richness of sounds. The musicians' intention is to achieve the effect of an orchestral piece using only two instruments. They admit that by avoiding conveniences, such as percussion, they set themselves a difficult task that requires virtuosity. So they deserve applause not only for their talent but also for popularizing classical music without compromising on musical craftsmanship. And one more thing: the popularity of the 2CELLOS recording (which already exceeded the authors' wildest expectations at the very beginning) is evidence that valuable music can successfully promote itself, without much fanfare, media buzz, or the patronage of a well-known label.

Despite their popularity and undeniable charm, Luka and Stjepan are above all professional musicians. Stjepan often records outside Croatia. Luka is studying in London under the guidance of Mats Lindstrom. He recently won a competition at Wigmore Hall.
It is worth remembering that the 2CELLO project is one of the great episodes in the careers of artists whose repertoire is primarily classical music.
In the end, a beautiful Nocturne in C-sharp minor (Op. 19, No. 4) by Pyotr Tchaikovsky in an incredibly subtle performance by Luka Sulic. Where Russian nostalgia meets Balkan sensitivity...