The new faces in the Royal Chapel in the 19th century

An Italian musician and master of Neapolitan opera, Paisiello worked as chapel master for Catherine the Great of Russia for nine years before moving to Vienna where he composed a series of twelve symphonies.

With his choir school training, Jean-François Lesueur served as chapel master at several cathedrals in the latter half of the 18th century - in Dijon, Le Mans, Tours and then in 1786 at Notre Dame in Paris...

Son of a Florentine harpsichordist, Luigi Cherubini was educated in Bologna and Milan. While visiting Paris in the summer of 1785 he became friends with fellow Italian violinist Giovanni Battista Viotti who introduced him to Queen Marie Antoinette at Versailles.

A former Page (choirboy) at the Royal Chapel Charles-Henri Plantade was educated in Versailles early in the reign of Louis XVI. His vocal talent quickly earned him recognition and he often sang solo before the court during Mass.