The recipe is an interesting one. Start with musicians who are well versed in historical performance. Let them choose pieces that inspire them, and then tell them to forget everything they’ve learned and let their imaginations run wild. This method might not be to everyone’s taste (such as those who have heavily invested in the reconstruction of our musical heritage), and others will smile indulgently, but there is no denying the excitement created when inspired musicians thrill audiences.

One result of this procedure is the Dowland Project, which brings together Manfred Eicher, the head of ECM, tenor John Potter, formerly of the Hilliard Ensemble, and saxophonist John Surman. Their performance at Cheltenham will feature music from their third and most recent album. They will be joined for the occasion by lutenist Stephen Stubbs and Slovakian violinist Milo Valent for a programme entitled “Romaria”, which explores a wide variety of European music: Franco-Flemish Mass movements, Trouvère songs, Minnelieder, Portugese folksongs and anonymous works from the Carmina Burana manuscript.

According to Gramophone, the result is “As pure a musical experience as you’re likely to have”. The same weekend Rolf Lislevand and the Trio Medieaval will present another concert along the same lines. Nuove Musiche, their ensemble, has been performing together for a decade, and combines Norwegian folksongs with sacred medieval ballads. Their most recent recording particularly emphasised the Norwegian repertoire, and their Cheltenham date will combine this with works from 13th- and 14th- century England.

The more traditionally-minded can look forward to Tallis’s Spem in Alium, which will be given in the magnificent Tewkesbury Abbey, and to the first-ever encounter between two of the region’s chamber choirs, the St. Cecilia Singers of Glousester, and the Oriel Singers of Cheltenham, winners of the BBC’s Choir of the Year competition in 2005. La Serenissima, conducted by Adrian Chandler and featuring mezzo Sarah Connolly, will round off the early music component of this year’s programme.

Further details at www.cheltenhamfestivals.com