Stjepan Hauser before 2Cellos (ENG)

STJEPAN HAUSER BEFORE 2CELLOS

By Meire Cidade

Stjepan Hauser met his friend Luka Šulić in London in 2011 and both posted on the internet a video of their version of Michael Jackson's “Smooth Criminal” which went viral. What happened after that everyone already knows. But do you know who Stjepan Hauser worked with before that video? Check out below a brief description of Hauser's work before 2Cellos.

The Greenwich Trio (2006 – 2012)

The Greenwich Trio, described by legendary Beaux Arts Trio cellist Bernard Greenhouse as the new “Beaux Arts Trio”, is formed by pianist Yoko Misumi, Beethoven Society of Europe Top Prize-winner; Lana Trotovšek, a talent unveiled by Ruggiero Ricciïs at Salzburgs Mozarteum; and cellist Stjepan Hauser, one of the last students of Rostropovich and winner of 21 first prizes all over the world. These three phenomenal talents joined forces in August 2006. Since the very start, their energetic and passionate yet refined chamber music making has gained the approval of audiences and critics. The trio won both the first and the special prizes of the International Chamber Music Competition in Candelo, Italy, 2007. They also achieved the first and the audience prize of the Cavatina Chamber Music Competition, and the first prize in the Trinity Laban Chamber Music Competition. These successes have led to a series of concerts that have taken audiences by storm in Germany, Italy, UK and the USA. The Greenwich Trio received regular coaching from the Bernard Greenhouse and Stephen Kovacevich, and also received coaching from Deniz Gelenbe, Martino Tirimo and Rivka Golani, as well as master classes from Bernard Greenhouse (Beaux Arts Trio), Ivry Gitlis, Klaus Maetzl (Alban Berg Quartet), Wihan Quartet, The Schubert Ensemble, The Rosamunde Trio, The Arman Trio and William Aide. Highlights from the year 2008 include concert in St. Martin-in-the-Fields and performance of the Triple Concerto with conductor Barry Wordsworth.

On November 23rd ’08 The Greenwich Trio won First Prize in the International Music Competition "Carlo Mosso" in Italy; earning 100 points out of 100 and thus becoming the absolute winner of the competition! The competition was followed by a winners concert.

The Greenwich Trio recorded several albums. Their first, Shostakovich, a collection of Piano by Shostakovich, was released in 2010. Their second album, Ludwig van Beethoven: Piano Trio Op. 70, No. 2 in E Flat / Felix Mendlessohn - Bartholdy: Piano Trio C Minor, Op. 66, was released in 2012.

The album Shostakovich won a live version, Shostakovich Piano Trios Live.

Stjepan Hauser and Bruno Krajcar (2008)

In 2008 Hauser participated on the track “Pastirica” of croatian composer Bruno Krajcar. The song is part of the album Mate Balota and has the participation of croatian singer Elis Lovrić.

Stjepan Hauser and Marco Graziani (2009)

Marco Graziani was born in Rijeka, Croatia, in 1988 and began playing violin at the age of seven. He studied at the Music Academy of Zagreb, and attended seminars at home and abroad. He participated as a soloist and member of various chamber groups in national and international competitions.

Hauser and Graziani released the album Strictly Live in 2009, and they did presentations in Croatia to promote it.

Song to the Moon (2010)

In 2010, Stjepan Hauser released the album Song to the Moon, including the songs “Oblivion” and “Ave Maria” by A. Piazzolla, and “Gabriel’s Oboe (The Mission)” by E. Morriccone, arranged by him.

Stjepan Hauser and Yoko Misumi (2010 – 2011)

Born in Kyoto in a musical family, Yoko Misumi started very early her piano lessons, showing at a very early age her talent and musicianship. At age 14 she was already a prize-winner of Kyoto Piano Competition. After graduating from Kyoto Music High School, she moved to London to continue her studies with Nina Seredal (former student of Neuhaus) and Martino Tirimo (soloist).

Misumi is now in demand as a chambre musician and an accompanist, having performed in Japan, New Zealand, USA and Europe. Currently she is a professional accompanist at guildall school of music and drama.

Hauser and Misumi worked together on other projects beyond The Greenwich Trio. In 2010 they released the album Portrait, which Hauser dedicated to his parents Mario and Marija Hauser.

In the same year they worked at British composer Christopher Ball's first concerto for cello. The album, Christopher Ball: Music for Cello, was recorded with Christopher Ball (Composer, Conductor) and Emerald Concert Orchestra.

This work was recorded at its 2010 world premiere, and is coupled with seven concert pieces for cello and piano performed by Hauser and Misumi (including four arrangements of folksong favorites) and one work for solo cello written specifically for Stjepan Hauser.

As a composer, Christopher Ball is entirely self-taught but has received many commissions to compose and arrange light orchestral music for the BBC. His aim is to compose music which will communicate with and appeal to as wide an audience as possible, and therefore he does not pursue an atonal or avant-garde style.

In 2011 Hauser and Misumi recorded Johannes Brahms: Sonatas for Clarinet and Piano, Op. 120 Nos. 1 & 2; Nino Rota: Sonata for Clarinet and Piano and Trio for Clarinet, Cello and Piano with Michael Pollock (piano) and Leslie Craven (clarinet), and Romantic Trios for Clarinet, Cello & Piano, with Leslie Craven (clarinet).

Leslie Craven for many years performed and recorded for London’s major orchestras, as The Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, London Symphony Orchestra, etc., and also for T.V., film and advertisement sessions (known as”Jingles”) in the major studios. In 1993 he was invited by Maestro Carlo Rizzi to join Welsh National Opera and he settled in Wales in to enjoy a more pleasant lifestyle and to be part of one of the world’s leading Opera companies.

He is currently Principal clarinettist of the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera a position he has held for over twenty two years, frequently being singled out by the press for his solo work in the Opera as recently as 2014 in the solos in Rossini’s “Moses in Egypt” which was given high praise in the press and his solo work given special mention on the BBC Radio 3 broadcast. Today he is widely regarded as one of Britain’s most accomplished and respected clarinettists in every musical genre.

He is recognised as one of the foremost teachers of clarinet not only in U.K. but worldwide. He has written a pedagogical book to help clarinettists learn and teach the instrument and has contributed many articles and reviews for magazines and journals both in the U.K. and abroad.

Lana Trotovšek and Yoko Misumi

Lana Trotovšek, the other member of The Greenwich Trio, released solo albums and singles and worked together Yoko Misumi in the albums:

Après un Rêve – 2013

Schubert – Brahms – Bloch – Gershwin – 2013

Arvo Pärt: Fratres – EP – 2014

Roma Cafolla: Inspirations (with Yoko Misumi and Leslie Craven) – 2015

From October 2014 Trotovšek is an assistent teacher in the class of Volodja Balzalorsky at the Academy of Music Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Stjepan Hauser and Damir Urban (2011)

Damir Urban is a croatian singer/songwritter/musician best known as frontman of Laufer & Urban & 4. He was born on 19 September 1968 in Rijeka, Croatia, where he founded his first band La Bellona as the bassist and main songwriter.

Hauser and Urban released Urban & Hauser in 2011, mixing harmoniously rock and classical music.

In the same year they participated in the album HITOVI / Aquarius 14.0 / Iz Jednog Pogleda with the song “Astronaut”.

Stjepan Hauser and Oliver Dragojević (2011 - 2014)

A Croatian, native of the town Vela Luka on the Island of Korčula, Oliver Dragojević emerged on the music scene in the 1970s thanks to the very popular Split, Croatia, music festival. His specialty were songs influenced by Dalmatian (Croatian) folklore. His first domestic hit was called "Picaferaj" in 1967. Most of those songs were written by legendary songwriter Zdenko Runjić. One of the most popular was “Nadalina”, which also featured famous actor Boris Dvornik and the popular 'Dalmatian anthems' "Galeb i ja" and "Skalinada".

Dragojević maintained his popularity in ensuing decades, while in the 1990s his songs became less influenced by domestic folk and more by global music trends. At that time he was often referenced as Croatia's oldest pop star. After the collaboration with the legendary Zdenko Runjić he recorded a few albums that yet again exceeded everyone's expectations.

Today, Dragojević is the most loved Croatian singer and continues to delight audiencies with his wonderful voice and piano talent.

Hauser is a declared fan of Dragojević and they recorded Noć Nek' Tiho Svira together in 2012.

Hauser also participated in album Best Of (2012 Tour Edition) with the song “Brod u Boci”, and live performances, including Pula in 2011 and “Splitski Festival 2014” in Split.

The song “Brod u Boci” is part of the album HITOVI / Aquarius 14.0 / Iz Jednog Pogleda (2011).

Oliver Dragojević & Stjepan Hauser - "Live in Split" full concert - 2014