Culture and Leisure

Ara Malikian set to leave the Principal speechless: "It took me years to accept being the eternal outsider"

"In Lebanon, they did not consider me Lebanese enough because I was of Armenian origin; Armenians did not consider me Armenian enough because I had been born in Lebanon, and when I settled in Europe, they did not consider me European because I had not been born in Europe." For precisely this reason, Ara Malikian describes himself as the "eternal outsider"—something it took him "many years" to accept, and which has ultimately taken shape in the new show set to leave the Teatro Principal speechless from October 23 to 25.
Ara Malikian set to leave the Principal speechless: "It took me years to accept being the eternal outsider"

He will arrive there after moving audiences in Zaragoza just a few days ago with the final "Somos" performance of the Fiestas del Pilar, following a tour that captivated more than 400,000 people around the world and included 200 sold-out performances of his latest "The Ara Malikian World Tour." With "Intruso," Malikian will offer a sonic journey exploring the richness of multiculturalism by blending classical music with rock, flamenco and tango in a show designed for all ages.

Showcasing his virtuosity and energy on stage, the violinist says it was this status as an "outsider" that gave him the opportunity to "explore and enjoy fascinating music and cultures" beyond his own "tradition." "Thanks to my status as an 'outsider,' I discovered that the entire world is my home. Art, music and culture belong to me regardless of my origin or birthplace. My home is in my body and soul, an infinite space where music becomes a universal language," he says.

The "Intruso World Tour" stop will arrive at the Principal with a large part of the tickets already sold and at various times (Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 5:00 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and Sunday at 7:00 p.m.).

Far removed from the solemnity that usually accompanies classical music concerts, Ara Malikian has turned his performances into shows in which the violin shares the spotlight with humor, personal anecdotes and a dynamic stage production. The Armenian-Lebanese musician breaks down barriers between genres and brings the instrument to audiences who may never have considered attending a violin recital. He does so without sacrificing the technique and expressiveness that have made him one of the most recognizable performers on the international scene.

About this article: Originally published in Spanish by AragonDigital.es and—following a selection process by our journalists—made available to the international audience of AragonDaily.com. Both newspapers belong to companies within the ARAGON DIGITAL GROUP.