Lucie Skeaping and Catherine Bott visit the palace of Versailles to learn about its transformation from a humble hunting lodge into one of the most impressive royal residences in Europe. They're joined by the Versailles historian Pierre Arizzoli-Clémentel and Professor Tony Spawforth who will act as their guides through the many mysteries and splendours of the famous chateau, which employed some of the most important musicians of the time: Boësset, Lully, Couperin, Marais, Campra, Chambonnières, Lalande, to name but a few. Playlist: Robert Ballard - Entree pour luth Claire Antonini (lute) MBF 1107 Disc 1 Track 7 Robert Ballard – Ballet du Dauphin Claire Antonini (lute) MBF 1107 Disc 1 Track 4 Andre Philidor - Le Canon de Versailles a 5 parties La Simphonie de Marais Directed by Hugo Reyne VIRGIN VERITAS VM 5 61778-2 Track 35 Andre Philidor - Les Concerts Royaux (Fugue 1) La Simphonie de Marais Directed by Hugo Reyne VIRGIN VERITAS VM 5 61778-2 Track 28 Marin Marais - Suite in E minor (Rondeau) Quadro Hotteterre TELDEC 9031 77617-2 Disc 2 Track 3 Andre Philidor - Menuet de l'Orangerie La Simphonie de Marais Directed by Hugo Reyne VIRGIN VERITAS VM 5 61778-2 Track 37 Mozart - 9 Variations on the air "Lison dormait..." K.264 Andreas Staier (fortepiano) MBF 1107 Disc 18 Track 8 Marc-Antoine Charpentier - Les Plaisirs de Versailles (Scene 4: "Si les cartes") Steve Dugardin (counter-tenor) Les Arts Florissants Conducted by William Christie ERATO 0630 14774-2 Track 9 Claude-Benigne Balbastre - Extract from the "Livre d'orgue de Dijon" Olivier Latry (organ) MBF 1107 Disc 13 Track 17 Jean-Philippe Rameau - Air gai (Les Fetes d'Hebe) Les Arts Florissants Conducted by William Christie ERATO 3984 26129-2 Track 2 Francois Devienne - Flute Quartet in A minor Op.66 No.1 (1st Mvt) Alexis Kossenko (flute) / Cambrini Quartet MBF 1107 Disc 19 Track 1 Francois-Joseph Gossec - Symphony in D major B.86 (Presto) London Mozart Players Conducted by Matthias Bamert CHANDOS 9661 Track 17 Henri-Joseph Rigel - Symphony in D minor (3rd movement) Le Cercle de l’Harmonie Directed by Jeremy Rhorer MBF 1107 Disc 17 Track 7