Lebanese-Armenian virtuoso violinist Ara Malikian, ranked among the world’s top violinists according to Ranker polls, is set to return to Yerevan with a highly anticipated concert as part of his Intruso World Tour. The concert will take place on February 15 at the Karen Demirchyan Sports and Concert Complex. Renowned for his electrifying performances and sold-out halls across the globe, Malikian last performed in Yerevan twice, leaving audiences with last- ing impressions. This time, he returns with new emotions, new ideas, and a new program that blends classical mastery with contemporary expression, promising audiences an experience that is beautiful, unexpected, and striking. Sharing the stage with Malikian will be longtime collaborators with whom he has performed on prestigious international stages: pianist Iván “Melón” Lewis, double bassist Iván Ruiz Machado, drummer Georvis Pico Milán, and guitarist Dayan Abad. The same ensemble performed alongside Malikian in Yerevan in 2023 and 2024, delivering unforgettable concerts. At the heart of the Yerevan performance is Malikian’s Intruso album, which he will present to Armenian audiences. More than a diverse and compelling mu- sical work, the album is deeply autobiographical and socially reflective. Through its compositions, Malikian tells the story of a life spent moving from one country to another, exploring themes of identity, displacement, and belonging. Born in Lebanon, Ara Malikian has lived and worked in Spain for many years. His exceptional talent emerged at an early age, despite the hardships of growing up during the Lebanese civil war, when he was often forced to live and study in bomb shelters. He gave his first major concert at the age of 12, and two years later, with the support of conductor Hans Herbert Jöris, received a scholar- ship from the German government to study at the Hanover University of Music and Drama. Malikian later continued his education at London’s Guildhall School of Music and Drama and studied under world-renowned professors. In 2015, in collaboration with Madrid’s Royal Theatre, Malikian reissued an album marking the 15th anniversary of his settlement in Spain. One of his major recent tours, 15, achieved significant success with audiences and critics alike, drawing more than 175,000 spectators across over 150 concerts. With his subsequent album, The Incredible Story of the Violin, Malikian em- barked on a global tour, performing on some of the world’s most prestigious stages in cities including London, Paris, Rome, Moscow, Buenos Aires, Mexico City, Lima, Santiago de Chile, Beijing, Hong Kong, Istanbul, Madrid, Lisbon, and Berlin. In 2019, Malikian launched the Royal Garage world tour alongside the re- lease of the album of the same name, collaborating with acclaimed artists such as Andrés Calamaro, Enrique Bunbury, and Serj Tankian. This was followed by the Petit Garage tour, born out of the pandemic period and the previous tour’s legacy, featuring intimate violin-and-piano performances in smaller venues—from the Dubai Opera to Mexico’s Michoacán and Madrid’s Royal Palace. Malikian’s return to Yerevan is expected to be a major cultural event, reaf- firming his deep connection with Armenian audiences and bringing the spirit of global music back to the Armenian capital.