From the gardens of Versailles to the palace of Fontainebleau, including Nieul sur L’Autise (near La Rochelle and Niort), the concerts and other activities unfold in settings that allow us to discover 17th and 18th century music, song and dance in their true context.

At 9 p.m. on 1, 8, 15 and 22 July, the Palace of Versailles will be the backdrop for the grand evening performances of "Fantaisies d’Opéras: Divertissements des opéras sous Louis XIV", featuring music from Lully’s Alceste, The Fairy Queen by Purcell and Le Raccommodement Comique by Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre.

On 26 and 28 July, Nieul sur L’Autise will be the venue for "Divertissements Baroques" with choreography by Fabienne Béchamp, a delightful way of discovering the city through the music of 17th century French composers. Finally, from 21 to 26 August, the halls and particularly the old theatre of Fontainebleau will host a range of concerts and and courses in a programme designed to establish a dialogue between the arts.

The summer school will accept 10 students, who will be given the opportunity to participate in the open concert scheduled for Saturday 26 August, based on scenes from operas and cantatas recreated in period character and style. The courses will focus on baroque singing style, declamation, staging, diction and expression with a view to introducing young performers to thse techniques.

Michel Verschaeve has specialised in this repertoire for more than twenty years and is the author of Le Traité de Chant et Mise en Scène Baroques, a key work on baroque reconstruction and training in baroque performance techniques. The Compagnie Baroque was founded by Verschaeve in 1995 and carries out its activities in conjunction with numerous conservatoires and universities.