On Friday in Ibiza, Ara Malikian once again proved why he is one of the most charismatic and versatile musicians on the international scene. The Lebanese violinist performed at the Universitat de les Illes Balears (UIB)'s headquarters in Ibiza, located in the former Comandancia. The concert was sold out just minutes after tickets went on sale.
Accompanied by his regular pianist, Ivan Melón, Malikian performed a varied repertoire combining his own compositions with arrangements of classics by composers such as Bach and Paganini, as well as adaptations of pieces from other genres and traditions, including David Bowie's 'Live on Mars'. For nearly two hours, the audience enjoyed a show that transcended musical interpretation. True to his style, the violinist alternated moments of great virtuosity with moments of intimacy, humour, and reflection.
The artist shared several personal anecdotes and spoke about his career and passion for music as a universal language. He also joked with the Ibizan audience, who responded with applause, laughter and cheers to each of his interventions.
Highlights of the evening included the performance of intimate, emotional pieces such as 'Nana arrugada', as well as more energetic, rhythmic pieces that got much of the audience out of their seats.
The Ibiza concert is part of the Intruso tour, on which Malikian is visiting various cities in Spain and other countries, to great public acclaim. Last night's performance confirmed his ability to connect with audiences of all ages and musical tastes once again, further consolidating his position as one of the most notable live acts in contemporary music.