Appassionata - Jilly Cooper

In this, the fifth novel in the series, Jilly turns her attention to the orchestra, and follows the story of Abigail Rosen know as L’Appassionata

Abigail is a gifted violinist, sexy and flamboyant and adored by all who heard her play until her loneliness got the better of her and she attempted suicide by slashing her wrists.

Naturally this put paid to her career as a violinist and she then sets her sights on becoming a conductor. She moves to London and meets up with Flora Seymour, who once had an affair with Rannaldini, and Marcus Campbell Black, son of Rupert Campbell Black. Marcus is a brilliant pianist but suffers from asthma, which makes public performances difficult due to nerves. His father still sees him as a weakling and has no time for him, which doesn’t improve his self-confidence.

Abigail gets the chance to conduct the Rutminster Symphony Orchestra and the three friends set up home together with Marcus forever having to nursemaid Abby through her various emotional traumas.

The RSO is in hock to the bank and is composed of a wild bunch of musicians who don’t take too kindly to Abby as she tries to hide her nerves by being over confident. She falls for Viking O’Neill the horn player, who is the womaniser of the orchestra.

The new manager of the RSO is George Hungerford, a rugged Yorkshireman determined to knock the orchestra into shape.

Then Rannaldini appears on the scene intent on sabotaging the RSO to prove his own supremacy.

It’s yet another triumph for Jilly Cooper, incorporating the old favourites of Rupert Campbell Black, Rannaldini, Lysander Hawkley and Hermione Harefield together with the new characters of the orchestra, in the usual roller coaster ride of emotions.