Choral concert held in New Zealand to celebrate Mid-Autumn Festival

WELLINGTON, Sept. 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese and New Zealand artists performed together at a choral concert in Wellington on Wednesday evening in celebration of the traditional Chinese Mid-Autumn Festival.

Maori artists and performers from Shenzhen Star Bright Choir enchanted the audience with 17 choral pieces from the two countries. Caii-Michelle, known as "the Voice of New Zealand," sang in Chinese "The Moon Represents My Heart," a classic pop song among the Chinese.

"We continue to collaborate through the arts and beautiful cultures in the hope of contributing to making this a better world, standing together no matter how hard it is, to bring peace, harmony and unity amongst the cultures and the countries," she told the audience following her performance.

Performers from Shenzhen and Maori artists from Wellington joined hands on the stage, using music as a medium and songs as a bridge to allow the cultures of China and New Zealand to shine together through beautiful melodies, and to ensure the friendship between the two nations endures through harmonious songs, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong said at the concert.

For Wendell Cooke from the audience, the moon symbolizes peace, reunion and beauty, while for another audience member, Zhao Hengying, the moon means the perfection of life's blessings, peaceful and tranquil times and family reunion.

The Mid-Autumn Festival, celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, falls on Sept. 25 this year.