Born in Lebanon in 1968 to Armenian parents, violinist Ara Malikian studied in Germany and England and won several international competitions before becoming a Spanish citizen and settling down in Madrid. Malikian's performances have taken him to many of the world's most prestigious stages and festivals, and he has released numerous recordings as a solo artist for Warner Spain since the mid-'90s. Besides classical music, Malikian has also studied the musical traditions of the Middle East and Central and Mediterranean Europe, collaborated with artists from other genres, managed theater productions, and hosted cultural shows on Televisión Española. ~ Mariano Prunes