The United Kingdom and Argentina commemorated two centuries of diplomatic ties with a musical gala held last night at the iconic Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.

Hosted by the British Embassy, the event brought together prominent figures from the national government, business community, diplomatic corps, arts, science, and civil society. It also marked the farewell of British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes, who is concluding her four-year mission in Argentina.

The evening served as a prelude to the upcoming staging of the British opera Billy Budd, set to premiere at Teatro Colón next Tuesday. The production features an international cast including artists from both the UK and Argentina.

Notable attendees included Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona, Deregulation Minister Federico Sturzenegger, former Cabinet Chief Nicolás Posse, former Foreign Minister Diana Mondino, and several secretaries and deputies. Also present were business leaders Gustavo Weiss, Jaime Campos, and Juan Martín Bulgheroni; Conicet President Daniel Salamone; Buenos Aires city ministers Hernán Lombardi and Pablo Bereciartúa; and top military officials including Air Chief Marshal Xavier Isaac, Admiral Carlos María Allievi, and General Carlos Alberto Presti.

Diplomatic relations between the UK and the United Provinces of the River Plate were officially established on February 2, 1825, through the signing of the Treaty of Friendship, Commerce, and Navigation. This was also the first recognition of Argentina’s independence by a major European power. The British Embassy will continue to mark this Bicentenary throughout the year with various commemorative events, including last night’s celebration in the theatre’s Golden Room.

During her speech, Ambassador Hayes said:

“Over these 200 years we have experienced times of closeness and times of distance, but our common history has always been marked by respect, mutual admiration and, above all, by the will to build bridges”.

She then spoke about her departure from Argentina:

“Tonight also has a very personal significance for me, as it is my last public event as British Ambassador to Argentina. I must confess that saying goodbye to this country is not easy. I am taking with me unforgettable memories, strong friendships and immense gratitude for the warm welcome I received in every one of the 24 provinces”.

The event was hosted by renowned Argentine scientist Diego Golombek and featured musical highlights including the Billy Budd prologue performed by British tenor Toby Spence and pianist Erik Nielsen, the opera Darwin in Patagonia, and a rendition of the symphonic work ¡Viva la libertad!, composed by Lalo Schifrin and Rod Schejtman. In a touching tribute to the Ambassador, Schejtman improvised a live piece using musical notes chosen by Hayes, Minister Cúneo Libarona, and Julio Aro, president of the No Me Olvides Foundation, which honors the memory of those lost in the 1982 conflict.

The event’s main sponsor was the UK’s national brand campaign, GREAT, with the motto “See Things Differently.” Additional support came from Standard Chartered.