El Barbero del Socorro, a trio from Colombia will perform the the traditional music of the Andes Mountains at the Cairo Opera House's small hall on Saturday 21 December. The name of the band El Barbero del Socorro means The Barber from Socorro, a small town in northeastern Colombia characterised by a rich history and musical tradition. The choice of word 'Barber' is a tribute to this character, which according to the musicians has very distinctive skills and besides working as a barber, he is also a musician, tailor or even a dentist when the need arises. In the history of Colombian music, barbers were credited with the creation of many gems of the vernacular music. The bands biographical notes point also to another reference: The Barber of Seville, an opera by Italian composer Gioachino Rossini. Originating from the music school of the Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga (UNAB), the trio El Barbero del Socorro was founded in 1995 with a purpose of the development and universalization of the Andes' music while showing its relationship with all Ibero-American music. In their concerts, the trio recurs to the technical capacities of the traditional instruments they use, such as the tiple (a Colombian typical string instrument, from the guitar family). The trio has traveled across the world taking the music of The Andes to important to the most renowned auditoriums and festivals. Members of El Barbero del Socorro are Colombian/Spanish tiple player Ricardo Varela Villalba; Colombian Edwin Castañeda Gonzáles, also a tiple player; and a Venezuelan Carlos Manuel Acosta de Lima. Programme: Saturday 21 December, 8pm Small Hall, Cairo Opera House, Zamalek, Cairo Source: Ahram Online