Moncloa has been working for months on the Euro-Atlantic dinner that will put the finishing touch to the first day of the NATO summit in Madrid this Wednesday. According to government sources, this is "a personal commitment" by the president, Pedro Sánchez, who will host an evening in which the heads of government and state can see the most famous works in the art gallery, listen to a concert by the Kyiv Symphony and taste a traditional menu.
As Moncloa has detailed, the leaders will dine in the Cloister of the museum, located on the top floor of the extension of the art gallery. During the hours that the meeting lasts, the surroundings of the Museum, in the heart of Madrid, will remain completely shielded from traffic and the transit of people. For the companions of the Heads of State and Government who will attend the dinner, the Sala de las Musas has been chosen, one of the most beautiful rooms in the art gallery.
Before sitting down at the tables, attendees will enjoy the concert offered by the Kiyv Symphony Orchestra in the Central Gallery of the art gallery, where some of the most important works of the museum, signed by Titian, Rubens, Carraci or Van Dyck.
With the previous concert, the Executive has highlighted that it is intended to "underline a strong message of unity and complementarity between the Alliance and the EU in the defense of Europe against the challenges arising from the invasion of Ukraine by Putin".
As Moncloa explained in a statement, the Kiyv Symphony Orchestra is a Ukrainian state entity founded 40 years ago, directed since 2018 by the Italian Luigi Gaggero. It has 90 members "who left their hometowns to go on tour with the 'Voice of Ukraine' project", where, since April 2022, they have brought Ukrainian music to the best European concert halls, including the Elphilarmonie in Hamburg. , the Berlin Philharmonic and the Gewandhaus in Lipzig.
The program that the Kiyv Orchestra will present to the leaders of the Euro-Atlantic Dinner consists of two pieces: 'Symphony no. 1' in C major (ch. 1770) by Maksym Berezovsky (1745-1777) and 'Melodie' in C minor' (1981) by Myroslav Skoryk (1938-2020).
The Euro-Atlantic Dinner menu consists of a main course consisting of lamb shoulder cooked at low temperature with lemon purée, prepared by chef José Andrés, founder of the NGO World Central Kitchen, Princess of Asturias Award for Concord for his work carried out in favor of those affected by humanitarian crises.
As a starter, lobster gazpacho with summer vegetables scented with basil and extra virgin olive oil of the Arbequina variety will be offered, and an appetizer of cod, orange and beetroot will be served beforehand, as reported by the Presidency of the Government. The dessert, named “Flavors of Madrid”, will combine Chinchón anise, Aranjuez strawberry, wafer and violet caramel in a single dish.
As Moncloa has also reported, parallel to the world leaders' working dinner, their companions will attend a cultural performance, which will stage the drama of the war in Ukraine. This performance, the “Song of Art: The Awaiting Pedestal”, will be exhibited in the Hall of the Muses of the art gallery and its own author, the artist Lluís Hortalá, will present his work to the attendees.
During this event, the Heads of State and Government, as well as the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense, who will dine on the other hand, will be presented with coins minted by the National Currency and Stamp Factory on the occasion of the 275th anniversary of the birth of Francisco de Goya .
The leaders will receive a silver fifty with a fragment of the work "The Grape Harvest or The Autumn" and the self-portrait of the painter on the obverse, while the ministers will be given an ounce of silver, which represents the painting "El Quitasol" on one side, and on the other the sculptural work of Goya by Mariano Benlliure.
The companions will be given sets of glass like the ones they have seen made during this morning's visit to the Royal Glass Factory of La Granja. The bottles will have the coat of arms of Spain engraved and the glasses will be carved by the masters of the Royal Factory.
