A summer concert by Croatian cellist Stjepan Hauser in Vilnius has been cancelled, the event organisers confirmed to LRT on Thursday. The announcement comes following criticism on social media over a Russian-themed video posted by the musician.
“Hauser’s performances in the Baltic states are cancelled. At the artist’s request, we will not provide any additional statements or comments,” representatives of the concert agency LTips said.
The cancellation may be linked to a social media post by Hauser this week. The video prominently featured Russia’s name and flag colours with a Moscow backdrop, and Hauser performed the Russian folk song Kalinka.
The post drew criticism from the musician’s followers and sharp condemnation from Ukrainians who follow his accounts.
The performance was part of Hauser’s ongoing project, Music Unites the World, in which he plays a well-known melody from a different country in each episode. Hauser has previously featured compositions from many nations.
When the Vilnius concert was announced earlier this week, organisers had said Hauser planned to perform a Lithuanian song. However, the earlier Russian-themed video sparked controversy online. A subsequent Ukrainian-themed performance did little to calm critics.
Hauser first gained international fame as a member of the duo 2Cellos and later launched a solo career, blending innovative approaches to bring cello music to new audiences. His solo albums, including Classic (2020), The Player (2022), Hauser Christmas (2023), Classic II (2024) and Cinema, have been streamed more than 2 billion times online, with over 4 billion video views.
Hauser has performed in over 40 countries, appearing in venues such as Radio City Music Hall and Royal Albert Hall, and collaborated with artists including Andrea Bocelli, Red Hot Chili Peppers, and Elton John. His career also includes performances at the Venice International Film Festival and for Pope Francis.
Hauser previously visited Lithuania as part of 2Cellos and held a solo concert at Kalnų Parkas two years ago.
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