Chinese artists join concert to celebrate New Zealand's 154-year-old wooden cathedral's reopen

The Old St. Paul's housewarming concert, participating by three Chinese artists, was held Saturday here in the capital of New Zealand, to welcome the reopening of one of the country's oldest heritage locations.

The 154-year-old wooden cathedral closed on May 3, 2019 for seismic strengthening work against earthquake.

Featuring in live performances and local food, over 600 local people gathered in the housewarming event to celebrate the end of the 15-month-long wait.

Combining classic Western music with traditional Chinese instruments, artists from Wellington Chinese Cultural Centre received a big round of applause from the audience.

Chinese artist Yan Shu presented well-known Ave Maria with Chinese flute, while Quarrelling with Myself, a duet of Erhu, a Chinese two-stringed bowed music instrument and Chinese flute, was performed by Zoe Li and Jeff Lin in a light-hearted jocular way.

"It is a fascinating intersection of Eastern culture and Western culture," audience Daniel Huang said.

The celebration also featured popular local musicians, including New Zealand String Quartet, local baroque orchestra and The Queen's Closet.