Often the best festival programmes are those which provoke debate and disagreement. This was one such programme. On paper it looked a little odd: an all-Handel second half, a mix of other British music (including pieces by two Brit-Aust composers) in the first half. Underlying it all was a grand vision for world peace, perhaps somewhat less coherent in its execution than in its aspiration and design.

The concert opened with great promise: choristers processing down the centre aisle of the Fitters’ Workshop, pausing at various points to sing a verse by Thomas Tallis. The Tallis text – “Why fum’th in fight?” – hoisted a war-torn banner proclaiming the thesis of this extraordinary programme: perplexity and confusion at the age-old conundrum – why do the nations continue to rage so furiously together?

Moving onto the stage, the choristers embarked on an affecting piece by Andrew Ford, Waiting for the Barbarians, to a very conflict-driven text by CP Cavafy. Its multiple lines and inner voices were delivered with persuasive panache by the choristers and the new director of The Song Company, Antony Pitts.  Almost every line started with a question: Why? What? “What is to become of us without barbarians?” Cavafy asks....