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Virgin Classics is proud to present the newly repackaged release of the highly acclaimed 2005 Musique à la Chapelle Royale de Versailles box set. Featuring an all-star lineup of some of the best baroque ensembles and soloists from Virgin Classics, experience a fascinating panorama of French Music at Chapelle Royale de Versailles at the time of Louis XIV. The Chapelle royale is one of the oldest of the French royal musical institutions, its history going back to the Middle Ages, but although it was originally set up by Francis I, it really rose to heights of splendor in the reign of Louis XIV, at Versailles. According to a folio of the Mercure galant from 1682: "This monarch's lasting intention was to make the chapel at Versailles the most magnificent place in this sumptuous, brilliant palace." The Chapelle was under the direction of a master of music, a high ecclesiastical dignitary. Its musicians were allotted to serve the religious offices, and to the under-masters (sous-maîtres) fell the honour of conducting the services, from 1663 each serving in turn for one quarter or term.