“Per ardua ad astra” is the motto of the Royal Air Force in the UK – “To the stars through hard work” is a rough translation.  The Choir has been putting in a lot of hard work recently rehearsing Granados’ “Song of the Stars” and we finally reached the stars last night as we participated in the work’s Australian premiere at the Conservatorium in Sydney.  Following two piano pieces played masterfully by Carolina Estrada, and a delightful solo song by Anita Kyle, the time finally came to show off Granados’ musical evocation of the heavens.  And,,judging by the applause, it went down very well.  The concert ended with Pablo Casals’ “Song of the Birds”  – a very effective conclusion to a programme dedicated to Catalan music reflecting on the transient nature of human passions compared to the eternal immensity of the cosmos.