British ambassador hails bicentennial of relations with Argentina in farewell bow

British Ambassador Kirsty Hayes bid a memorable farewell to Argentina on Wednesday as she hosted her last official function as London’s envoy in Buenos Aires.

At a stunning event at the Teatro Colón celebrating 200 years of bilateral relations with Argentina, Hayes welcomed politicians, members of the diplomatic corps, civil society leaders, scientists, members of the Armed Forces, top business leaders and several top politicians for a special preview performance of Benjamin Britten’s Billy Budd, which will premiere at the famed opera house next month.

In her emotional farewell speech, Hayes recognised the ups and downs of bilateral relations but noted that the two nations’ long shared history had always been “marked by respect, mutual admiration and willingness to build bridges.” 

Praising the “beauty, prestige and historical significance of the Teatro Colón,” she described it as the “perfect setting” to celebrate the bicentennial and her departure from these shores.

Hayes also paid tribute to her team at the Embassy as she confessed that leaving Argentina would “not be easy.”

“I take with me indelible memories, deep friendships and enormous gratitude for the warmth with which I have been received in each of the 24 provinces" nationwide she has visited, said the ambassador.

As anticipated, the Colón’s musical stars didn't disappoint, with lucky guests hearing from British tenor Toby Spence singing the prologue Billy Budd, as well as excerpts from the opera Darwin in Patagonia.

Before closing, pianist Rod Schejtman performed a live improvisation in honour of Hayes that stunned the audience. The piece combined musical notes selected at random by the ambassador, Justice Minister Mariano Cúneo Libarona and Julio Aro, president of the No Me Olvides Foundation, whose mission is to preserve the memory of those who fell in the Malvinas/Falklands conflict in 1982.

“May tonight be a tribute to the past, a recognition of the present, and an inspiration for the future we will continue to build together,” concluded Hayes.