Gala dinner at the world-renowned theater Teatro Colon

A night at the world-renowned opera house of Buenos Aires, the Teatro Colón theater, was the closing activity of the first day of the 2018 G20 Summit. The heads of states arrived to enjoy an evening of music, fine wines and choripan, among other local specialties selected to showcase Argentine traditions.

Argentum, a show directed by Ricky Pashkus, reflects the diversity —at the same time geographical, ethnic and artistic— of the country hosting the influential global forum. With 84 dancers and 75 musicians playing live, the audience went through a tour of folkloric rhythms (such as malambo, cueca, zamba and carnavalito), contemporary genres (rock, hip-hop, rap) and the classical tango.

The site chosen for this gala dinner, the Teatro Colón theater, is in itself a work of art and history. A beautiful architectural piece built in 1908, has been home to world talents such as María Callas, Igor Stravinsky and Arturo Toscanini. Argentum blended technology and arts along five musical-theatrical displays, one for each of the main regions that make up the Argentine landscape: Patagonia, the Pampas, Cuyo, Littoral and Northeast.

The gala dinner featured king crab from the southernmost region, Patagonia, and Saturday’s main course for dinner will also come from the end of the world: braised Patagonian lamb, Perlberger said Tommy Perlberger, chef and owner of the company that provides the meals for the summit.

The meals were accompanied by wines from the Cuyo area, were Mendoza, land of superlative wineries, is located.

But the star of the G20 menu may have been the choripan, a chorizo sausage grilled over coals and served in crispy bread, that will be served as an appetizer. Often slathered in garlicky chimichurri sauce, vendors sell the popular street food at soccer matches or in parks. Of course, the internationally acclaimed grass-fed beef was part of the feast.

“We did a full search for the best chorizo in Argentina,” said Perlberger. “I would love it if the presidents were delighted by our food. Maybe at some point their countries will purchase some of our products,” the chef added.