The encounter between the rhythmic force of the Middle East and the virtuosity and expressiveness of the classical European tradition

A violin virtuoso whose musical concern has led him to deepen his own Armenian roots and those of other Middle Eastern cultures (Arab and Jewish music), the center of Europe (Gypsy and Klezmer culture), Argentina (tango) And Spain (flamenco).

Born in 1968 in Lebanon, in the bosom of an Armenian family, he began on the violin in the hand of his father. The harsh circumstances that the Lebanese civil war forced him to live in – he had to study for long periods in antiaircraft shelters – did not prevent his talent from being recognized immediately. He debuted with his first major concert at age 12 and at 14, conductor Hans Herbert-Jöris heard him play and got him a scholarship from the German government that allowed him to study at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater in Hannover . At 15, he was the youngest student admitted to this center. He completed his studies at the Guidhall School of Music & Drama in London and received lectures from great masters such as Franco Gulli, Ruggiero Ricci or members of the Alban Berg Quartet, among others.

Ara Malikian has a very broad repertoire, which includes most of the great works written for violin, while he has performed works by current composers such as Franco Donatoni, Malcom Lipkin, Luciano Chailly, Ladislav Kupkovic, Loris Tjeknavorian, Lawrence Roman and Yervand Yemakian . He is also one of the few violinists to offer violin-only recitals.