Sobhi Bidair, Sadek Gallini and Nayer Nagui will celebrate Christmas at the Cairo Opera House's Small Hall. Sobhi and Friends perform pop music, with Sobhi Bidair providing vocals. According to Ahram Weekly, "Sobhi Bidair has a long and fascinating history. He started singing when still in the Jesuit School. Soon after (with Omar Khairat, Omar Khorshed, Hany Meimary, Wagdy Francis, and Ezzat Abu Ouf), he joined the band Les Petits Chats, one of the most acclaimed bands in the history of Egyptian pop music. Touring with Les Petits Chats, Bedair's career as a pop singer flourished. He joined the Cairo Conservatory where he completed three academic years in just one year and while there, at the age of 26, he played his operatic first role, Pinkerton in Puccini's Madame Butterfly. This was only the beginning of an equally interesting operatic career. Bidair resumed his studies abroad (in Belgium, England and France) where he also performed in many operas. He was among the finalists in the International Pavarotti Singing Competition. At the beginning of 1990s, once back in Cairo, Bidair was appointed Director of the Cairo Opera Company, a post he has held more than once. Italy also decorated Bedair with the title of Cavaliere. Today he teaches singing and continues performing, mainly his pop repertoire. Among his music projects is the celebrated Sobhi and Friends, a formation which has gained a significant following over the past years." Programme: Sunday, 8 January, 8pm Cairo Opera House, Small Hall http://english.ahram.org.eg/News/30738.aspx
