The 2012 Chinese Culture Year in Germany marking the 40th anniversary of Sino-German diplomatic ties was officially launched with a concert in Berlin Monday evening.

The concert, performed by the China Philharmonic Orchestra at the Music Hall on the Gendarme Market, combined Chinese and German classical music masterpieces.

Starting with the classic overture of "Tannhaeuser" by Richard Wagner, the orchestra with over 100 musicians also performed the Chinese violin concert "Liang Shanbo and Zhu Yingtai," also known as the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, and the solo dancing and singing from Peking Opera masterpiece "the Drunken Beauty."

"It's just amazing to hear and admire the typical Chinese folk music with profound connotations of traditional Chinese folklore, as well as the dancing and solo of Beijing Opera, which is particularly striking with its flamboyant costumes and elegant gestures," said Ms. Christ, a 65-year-old visitor from Nuremberg.

"I have long cherished a desire to explore and learn more about the bonanza of Chinese culture, which has 5,000 years of continuous heritage," she said.

It was the first time for Berlin local Helmut Schwarz to hear the Butterfly Lovers Violin Concerto, and he found the melody very touching. "It is so emphatic and harmonious, one of the most beautiful music pieces I have ever heard in my life," Schwarz said.

Chinese Minister of Culture Cai Wu gave a speech at the start of the concert, saying the event was of profound significance to Sino-German bilateral cultural exchanges.

The minister said the series of events would provide German people with the opportunity to understand both traditional and contemporary Chinese culture, and promote dialogue and exchanges among artists, scholars and intellectuals between the two countries.

He also noted that both Chinese President Hu Jintao and his German counterpart Christian Wulff were the custodians of the "2012 Chinese Culture Year in Germany."

Given that many activities are jointly presented by professionals from both countries, the Chinese Culture Year will also help set up a platform for long-term cooperation, the Chinese minister said.

Following the opening concert, artists will stage over 500 programs in over 30 German cities during the Chinese Culture Year.

German audiences will be presented with more grand shows featuring Chinese music, theater, literature and films, as well as cultural dialogues, forums and seminars.

The Culture Year is aimed at enhancing bilateral relations and enhancing friendship and cooperation between over 60 pairs of sister states (provinces) and sister cities on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Sino-German diplomatic relations. It offers a platform for direct communication and cooperation between cultural organizations and artists of the two countries.