Two sites in Tintern associated with religious worship for nearly a thousand years are the setting in mid-July for a unique festival.

One of the highlights of the Sacred Site and Sound Festival will be an atmospheric performance of Sir John Tavener’s ‘Towards Silence’ within the nave of Tintern Abbey, set against a dramatic light show. The event is being dedicated to the life and work of the influential composer, who died last year.

Central to the Saturday evening concert, also featuring works by Britten and Arvo Pärt, will be a performance of Tavener’s ‘Protecting Veil’ for cello and strings performed by internationally acclaimed Welsh cellist Kathryn Price with the Welsh Chamber Orchestra conducted by Anthony Hose. Kathryn, who lives in neighbouring St Arvan’s but regularly performs at major venues across the globe, will be flying in from the Madrid Festival for the event.

The festival programme not only reflects the area’s historic links with ‘the spiritual’ but also with creative inspiration, most notably for artists and poets of the Romantic period who were moved by the ‘picturesque’ scenes encountered on their journeys along the river.

Staging such an event at such an iconic location represents a once in a lifetime opportunity for both organisers and performers.

Vanessa Dodd,the festival’s artistic director, said, “The aim is to reconnect these sacred sites with what they were originally created for – to provide spiritual nourishment.

“No-one before has attempted to reintroduce the sacred music to its spiritual home at Tintern Abbey. St Michael’s Church, which hosts an evening of poetry and music on the Friday night, is a wonderful venue too - open to all as a place of rest and contemplation.”

Cellist Kathryn Price added, “Tintern Abbey is such a national historic site that it is brilliant to bring it to life with a mix of what is essentially ancient music interpreted by modern composers.”

Visual artist John Clive has the daunting task of creating abstract images on a computer that interpret Tavener’s complex vision for Towards Silence.

He said, “Hearing this profound and beautiful piece performed in this wonderfully sacred site will be an extraordinary spiritual experience.

“It’s the first time the work has been ‘illustrated’ in this way, using modern technology to express very deep ideas. I’ve spent months studying the score and the sources behind it. It is one of the most challenging projects I have ever undertaken.”

Brittany artist Mick Abbott meanwhile is creating a series of artworks for an exhibition at the Abbey entitled ‘Paradise and Other Places’.

His starting point was the 17th century sculptures known as calvaires depicting the life of Christ, which are a familiar sight in northern France.

Mick first makes a drawing of the calvaire, then photographs it, then transfers the image to an iPad where he creates his own interpretation of the subject.

The forty panels he is creating will fit together like a concertina to make a shape that can be adapted for any space.

“I saw this project as a great opportunity. It is such a vast and open-ended subject - but I think it’s some of the best work I have ever done,” he said.

Friday July 18th (8pm), St Michael’s Church

- ‘A Reflection on Nature and the Cosmos’, featuring poetry by award- winning Welsh poet and author Grahame Davies and music for solo voice, violin and choir commissioned from Celia Harper, founder of Sulis music.

Saturday July 19th (from 7.30pm), Tintern Abbey - works by Tavener, Britten and Arvo Pärt performed by the Welsh Chamber Orchestra with conductor Anthony Hose and Cantemus Chamber Choir with conductor Huw Williams, director of music at the Chapel Royal. Tickets for the Abbey event at £15 (early bird £12) are available online by googling Tintern Village Sacred. Please take a folding chair and clothing suitable for an outdoor event.

Refreshments will be available in the monks' refectory prior to the performance and during the interval.