Lebanese violinist Ara Malikian expands his border-crossing artistry by playing in Spain and Canary Islands
Ara Malikian, the Lebanese violinist who has made Spain his home, continues to push musical boundaries with his virtuosic strings. He is set to perform in Gran Canaria on October 1 as part of the SUM Festival, presenting selections from his latest album Ara. The artist promises the local audience that the music will be carried with care and shared with warmth across the island.
In this tour, Malikian offers a more intimate experience, reflecting adjustments made during the pandemic. The interviewer asks whether fans can choose between two formats.
Malikian responds that change has its advantages. During the pandemic, he and his ensemble experimented with a duo, intimate setup that accommodated smaller capacities. He recalls the period as challenging yet rewarding, with security measures, masks, and social distancing shaping each performance. He notes that the audience, despite widespread fear and continual news, remained excited to attend live shows and that those two years provided a rare opportunity to discover new ways to connect. Now, as circumstances improve, the project shifts toward a larger concept with a fuller, broader band, while still honoring the intimate roots of his earlier work.
A question arises about the audience experience: the old practice of not ending a concert while still engaging with the crowd has vanished in recent times.
Malikian explains that he has grown accustomed to engaging with concertgoers in all settings. Even during the pandemic, he walked among the people in his masks, acknowledging the energy and enthusiasm that fans bring to a live performance. He emphasizes that he owes a debt of gratitude to those who support him, and that being close to the audience has become a cherished ritual. It is a habit he developed years ago, and one he believes the public genuinely values as a shared, uplifting moment.
Asked about the Canary Islands program itself, Malikian reveals the personal inspiration behind his latest work Ara, a piece born from a close relationship with his son who was in prison. He describes the album as a doorway to his son’s world, imagination, and childhood wonder—an emotional journey he found meaningful to share publicly. Because the festival environment invites movement and dancing, he plans to adapt portions of the show to encourage foot-tapping and joyful spontaneity, ensuring the set remains aligned with festival energy while preserving the album’s intimate core.
On whether this latest project is a repeat of past personal narratives, Malikian answers that a musician should connect with the audience regardless of the theme. He views sharing emotion as a responsibility that comes with performing. He aims to absorb the energy the crowd emits, enter a heightened state, and give everything—body, soul, and heart—to leave the listeners with lasting happiness and a memorable moment. In his view, if that connection falters, something is not right.
The interviewer notes that Malikian’s international touring underscores the universal reach of his music, which transcends borders and cultures. Malikian agrees, stating that music speaks a universal language when expressed with sincerity. He believes that the heart recognizes genuine emotion, and the artist bears the responsibility to cultivate that resonance for every audience member, no matter where they are in the world. The goal, he says, is to engage with every listener as if it were the very first time—an approach he continues to refine with each performance. Credit: SUM Festival interview.