2CELLOS is a Croatian cellist duo from Zagreb, made up of Luka Šulić and Stjepan Hauser. It is active from 2011 and works in classical crossover, instrumental rock and related styles, with releases on Sony Masterworks.

Formation and early attention

The duo begins in January 2011, when Šulić and Hauser perform a cello-only cover of Michael Jackson’s “Smooth Criminal” and upload it online under the name 2Cellos. The video quickly attracts wide attention and helps establish the pair internationally.

Recordings and label

2CELLOS releases its debut album with Sony Music Entertainment in mid-2011, later associated with Sony Masterworks. Its recorded work sits across classical, classical crossover, instrumental, instrumental rock, modern classical and neoclassical metal.

Television and touring

The duo appears live on The Ellen DeGeneres Show in April 2011, performing “Smooth Criminal”. It also appears on a Michael Jackson-themed episode of Glee in January 2012, performing the song with Naya Rivera and Grant Gustin. Following the success of the video, Elton John invites the duo to join his summer tour, and they tour with him through 2011 and into 2012.