Hauser doesn’t walk into a room—he swoons into it, cello in hand, black-tie energy radiating, and a head full of more dramatic ideas than a telenovela writer on a deadline.
With Classic II, the sequel to his surprisingly massive 2020 solo debut Classic, the 2CELLOS co-founder doubles down on orchestral romance, dramatic arrangements, and cello-fronted grandeur. “Fans kept asking for more,” he told me, “and thank God there are so many masterpieces. I could go on forever. Classic 3, 4, 5… maybe Classic 100.”
It’s not just a numbers game. As one half of 2CELLOS, Hauser already helped blow the doors off genre expectations by playing Bach and AC/DC with the same passionate snarl. But with Classic II, he's aiming to push even further—this time alongside the London Symphony Orchestra, with Robert Ziegler conducting. The formula is lush, slow-burning melodies, heavy on the romance. “I’m just that kind of guy,” he said, with a shrug that might as well come with a red rose and mood lighting.
What began as a passion project to honor his classical roots has become a surprisingly timely phenomenon. “People are listening to classical music again,” he said. “Maybe because it’s not fast food. These pieces were written with heart and soul. You can feel that.” Even his local radio stations—yes, including ours in Louisville—are seeing younger audiences suddenly lean in to Beethoven and Brahms.
But Hauser isn’t some stiff in a tux playing to polite applause. His version of classical music is a cinematic spectacle. “My shows start with the serious stuff,” he explained, “then go into romantic melodies, and then it’s just madness. Adrenaline. Screaming. Jumping. Dancing. It becomes a wild rock show.”
If that sounds like a musical identity crisis, he’s already a step ahead of you. “I’m a rock star, I’m a serious musician, I’m Mr. Romantic—I have many versions of me,” he said. And yes, they all make the stage.
Those countless personas are visual, too. His YouTube videos—often drenched in candlelight or opera-house lighting—are hyper-stylized and bold. “Most of those ideas come from my crazy mind,” he laughed. “Others just help me execute them.”
The cello, though, is the constant star. Whether he’s playing alone or joining forces with legends like Elton John, Andrea Bocelli, U2, or the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Hauser sees his instrument as something more than backup. “It’s my voice. It’s the lead. It deserves to be front and center.”
Even when paired with Anthony Kiedis and Flea, there was no ego clash. “No rivalry,” he insisted. “Music unites everyone.”
As for his own singing voice, that's still a work in progress. “People say I should sing, but I don’t believe them,” he admitted, chuckling. “There are great singers out there. I think I should stick to cello—that’s my voice.”
And that voice is busy. In between classical releases, he's dropped surprise covers of everything from Phantom of the Opera to Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual.” Any rhyme or reason behind the madness? “I have so many crazy ideas,” he said. “It’s not easy to be in my head. I wish I could release them all at once.”
His next brainstorm is a movie-themed album. “Every emotional scene in a movie has a cello in it,” he pointed out. “It’s meant to be there.”
Until then, there’s Classic II, the “Kiss the Rain” single, and his first-ever solo U.S. tour. “This year is going to be intense,” he said. “I won’t stop for a long time.”
Something tells us he wouldn’t want to anyway.
Watch the interview above and then check out the video below.
