Appassionata

Rutshire Chronicles #5

by Jilly Cooper

Abigail Rosen, nicknamed Appassionata, was the sexiest, most flamboyant violinist in classical music, but she was also the loneliest and the most exploited girl in the world. When a dramatic suicide attempt destroyed her violin career, she set her sights on the male-dominated heights of the conductor's rostrum. Given the chance to take over the Rutminster Symphony Orchestra, Abby is ecstatic, not realising the RSO is in hock up to its neck and is composed of the wildest bunch of musicians ever to blow a horn or caress a fiddle. Abby finds it increasingly difficult to control her undisciplined rabble and pretend she is not madly attracted to the fatally glamorous horn player, Viking O’Neill, who claims droit de seigneur over every pretty woman joining the orchestra. And then Rannaldini, arch-fiend and international maestro, rolls up with Machiavellian plans of his own to sabotage the RSO. Effervescent as champagne, Jilly Cooper's novel brings back old favourites like Rupert and Taggie Campbell-Black, but also ends triumphantly with a rampageous orchestral tour of Spain and the high drama of an international piano competition.

Genres: Fiction, Romance, Chick Lit, Music, Contemporary, British Literature, Audiobook

900 pages, ebook

First published January 1, 1996

About the author

Dame Jilly Cooper, OBE (born February 21, 1937) was an English author. She started her career as a journalist and wrote numerous works of non-fiction before writing several romance novels, the first of which appeared in 1975. She was most famous for writing the six blockbuster novels the Rutshire Chronicles.

Reviews

[Anna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Back in my late teens and early twenties in the 80s and 90s, my favourite author was Jilly Cooper. Her frollicking sex n' scandal tales of toffs and top totty romping through the British countryside kept me entertained (and enlightened!) for hours, so when they all popped up for 99p on Kindle's Daily Deals last week, I couldn't resist snapping 'em up!

Instead of going for the most famous ones first (Riders, Rivals and Polo), I started with Appassionata, the fifth in the Rupert Campbell-Black series; unlike my multiple reads of the first three, I'd only read this once or twice previously and could only remember Oirish horny horn player Viking and his glorious lion-mane of hair who shagged his way through all the girls in the orchestra before finally being tamed by Appassionata herself.

Would it stand the test of time? In all honesty, had it been a new read I think I'd have tired of it all quite quickly, but through serial stud Rupert and the ever-adorable Taggie, sweet gay Marcus, and swaggering sex on legs Viking, I loved it for the dated, tongue-in-cheek, downright silly, bonkbusting bit of brain candy it is.

4 stars as an enthralled, Viking loving, twenty-something; 4 stars as a nostalgic, Viking loving, forty-something.

[Minty McBunny · Rating 3 out of 5]

By far the weakest entry in my favorite trashy series of all time, Abby is utterly hideous & unlikeable & the plot fails to engage me at all aside from Marcus’s story. Still, Jilly at her worst is better than most of the US trashy novelists combined at their best, so I forgive her. Score! is pretty bad too but at least it takes its ludicrous premise so far over the top that it’s campy fun. This book is just dull.

[TashNz · Rating 5 out of 5]

lol - after reading this i read a blog by the nzso who were travelling around the world at the time - in my imagination i imagined them to all be rutting around like the people in Appassionata and Score heheheeh

[Jennifer · Rating 3 out of 5]

I LOVE Jilly Cooper. I could not seem to warm to the heroine, Abby, in this book. The ending was fabulous, it really made the book for me. And it was very cool to get a behind-the-scenes peek at the music world.

I'm still sighing over Riders, Rivals and Polo, my favourites.

[India-Rose · Rating 3 out of 5]

still love this series LOL!!! i always say im not going to read the next one and then i do. wasn’t too sure about the setting of this one, moving away from the world of horses fully to the world of music/orchestra’s??? definitely missed all the horse talk lmao, but i think it had the perfect mix of the original characters and introducing new ones (i miss billy so effing much though, considering he was rupert’s life long best friend how has he just disappeared from the narrative?) and actually felt v emotional at the ending of this one compared to the last (i’ve always found rupert’s treatment of marcus very funny regardless of how awful it was, and now im crying!). will i read the next one?? who’s to say (most likely)

[Judy Beyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

One of my secret hideaway authors.
I just wish her editor had corrected the name of the song mentioned as 'Lydia Pinker'. Remember 'Lily the Pink'?

[Gill Quinn · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 Always good, fun, easy reads. Which is exactly what we need sometimes. This isn't one of the best though - drags a bit in the middle.

[Arto Mutka · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am working my way through this series... This is number 5 and by far my least favourite. It is way too long at 900 pages. I liked the beginning and the end but the 500 odd pages in the middle not so much! Really a lot of useless content as fodder in the middle of book. So many characters that we don't need in the book. Riders and Polo were great and the other two I had read were OK but this one makes me less than eager to pick up the next one in the series! Highlights of the novel was the touching start with Rupert Campbell Black and Taggie adopting some South American babies at the start and getting to know Rupert's son Marcus towards the end of the book but the title character Abby (la Appassionata) was such an unlikeable character so self absorbed I really didn't care about her at all!

[DeB · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoy broad satire, have a bit of a clue about the British class system and are open to novels that lead you on goose trails with hijinks and shenanigans all the way to a neatly and delightful ending, you can't do better than Jilly Cooper. Her books are, to use the English expression, "a lark ", filled with high comedy, pretentious snobs, salt of the earth types, love stories, romps, successes and rightful devastation of the villains in the plot. The plot, however, is always so serpentine that the reader is usually kept guessing until the end. Farcical fun!

[Dangermousie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ummmmmm. It's 80% a dud. I loathe Abigail, the heroine, I find everyone else in the book, including her OTP Viking and her friend Marcus (Rupert's son from first marriage) boring etc etc. Classical music is great to listen to, but makes the most boring novel topic. The 20%? The whole deliciously long sequence with Rupert and Taggie going to adopt in Colombia (Taggie can't have children - for why, see Polo) and actually ending up with two kids because Rupert ends up getting attached to this hideous, mistreated, but super-courageous little boy.

[Deeze · Rating 4 out of 5]

I admit I was a little frightened to start this one. The idea of a classical music back ground did not appeal. I could not of been more wrong. Jilly Cooper again brings to life characters you either love or hate but never feel indifferent towards

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice story, though a little too much romping in this one - I was fearful all the characters would end up with bouts of chlamydia, or worse.
Great thread with characters that can irritate and thrill you all at once.
Summer read must!

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Yes I love Jilly's Rutshire chronicles infinitely! I didn't even like the main character but still really enjoyed the book :)

[Elspeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bit of a slog this one but I have to admit I'm missing it already. Ludicrous really all on an orchestral background. Some old favourites - Rupert, Taggie etc and some new interests Flora, Bianca .... pretty silly and OTT in parts but full of puns and definitely ticked January Jilly box. Could have been 300 pages shorter, looking forward to another Rutshire Chronicle next year.

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved it. Jilly's books are such a comfort and a joy to read. So easy, so light. Loved the characters, loved the sprawling plot. Fab.

[Eileen Bakker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Appassionata is either the fourth or fifth in the utterly addictive Rutshire Chronicles – I’ve rather lost count, which surely says something about how merrily I’ve been galloping through them. As always, it was a sumptuous read; Jilly Cooper never fails to deliver her signature cocktail of passion, poshness, and chaos.

That said, this one could have done with a slight trim – say, 200 pages or so. The extended passages about orchestral politics and behind-the-scenes squabbles left me yearning for a bit more gallop and a bit less glissando. And while the sprawling cast of characters was impressive, it did make it tricky to feel truly invested in any of them – just as one started to pique my interest, along came another mezzo-soprano or troubled conductor.

Still, it was a delicious change of scene to trade in the stables for symphonies – a bit of Bach instead of bridles – although, between us, I’ll always prefer the thundering hooves and horsey drama.

The real treat? Glimpses of the inimitable Rupert Campbell-Black, naturally. Though I must say, I much prefer him centre stage, misbehaving outrageously, rather than lurking in the orchestral shadows. Here’s hoping Score, which I’m trotting off to next, gives him more of the limelight he so thoroughly deserves.

Perfectly frothy and full of flair – best enjoyed with a flute of something bubbly and absolutely no plans to be sensible.

[A · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm a huge fan of the Rutshire Chronicles but it felt like this would never end! The first 200 pages were enjoyable with the focus on existing characters such as Rupert and Taggie. However, once the focus shifted to the orchestra it went downhill. Didn't think much of Abby and couldn't really understand why every woman was swooning for Mr No-Personality caveman, otherwise known as Viking. Flora was the one bright spark. Sad to give a Jilly novel only two stars but even my crush on Dame Hermione couldn't save this one!

[Beth Gilmore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant and ridiculous, no notes. Basically 600 hysterical pages of posh people drinking champagne and bonking each other. Made me want to have a fantastically non PC affaire with a world famous symphony orchestra conductor twice my age.

Side note Never have I ever read a description as bonkers as that of a woman’s “little bush, like a damp fox”

[lauren · Rating 3 out of 5]

considering i know absolutely nothing about orchestras and music this was surprisingly entertaining. marcus u sweet boy

[Emily Johns · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the first of the series I haven’t given 5/5 to. I struggled to get into the orchestra references & one of our main characters Abigail is a bit annoying, so I wasn’t swept up in her romance story. I preferred the storyline around Marcus’ son but he took a while to become likeable too. Would still recommend a read but will be interesting to see in next few books whether it would have been possible to skip this instalment.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was one Jilly Cooper that I hadn't read before, so it was good to read it in order with the other Rutshire books. This one follows Abigail Rosen, a young Violinist who is let down by the man she loves - typical Cooper!! She tries to cut her wrists, but only ends up not being able to play her beloved instrument. Instead, she learns to conduct and is persuaded to help turn round the fortunes of a failing orchestra, one full of huge egos, overdrawn bank accounts and raging jealousies. Her friends, Flora Seymour and Marcus Campbell-Black, try to be there for her, but both have their own problems, while all Abigail wants is to play the violin again and get the handsome player Viking.

There were so many old favourites littering the cast of this. I like the fact that Marcus has a great story line to himself and the return of the evil Rannaldini always stirs up the story line. The only thing that annoys me is the chelloist on the front cover - why?!?!?!?! As usual, a good happy ending, but with lots of loose ends to be tied up in the next book.

[Laura..devouring books like crumpets · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh how i Love Jilly cooper..........

🎵 Abbey can Be Such a Brat!

🎵 Marcus i love you nearly as much as your dad!

🎵 Flora Naive and Loyal

🎵 El Creepo and Hermoine need to get together

🎵 The posh frocks of Hampshire get down and dirty back in the 90's ..... I grew up in Hampshire with horses so love it, dont know much about Music but Jilly's writing makes it just as memorable and Moreish..... i think this is maybe the 4th reread of this series....

🎵 Everyone is Rutting like a breeding farm!

Any series your guilty pleasure you can resist revisiting?

[Kay Mccormick · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very pleased to discover this author, who is well known in UK. Some of the best escapist fare ever. A fun frolicking romp throughout. Apassionata is a continuum of The Rutshire Chronicles, a fictional area of West England. Tells the story of a regional symphony orchestra and its highs and lows, it's colorful divas and egocentric characters. I really enjoyed this book...could have been about a 100 pages shorter, however. Still a delightful reading ride.

[Bob · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's just fun. Ms. Cooper writes deliciously naughty comedy, and gets most of the details right about the intersection of art (classical music) and business. The only cringe-worthy moments were those when the main characters pined for their lovers' attentions with something like the worst internal dialog from an arch romance novel.

[Ange · Rating 3 out of 5]

While this was yet another good book by Jilly it did take a long time to read, more so because I'm not into classical music making reading tough going. Happy to eventually get to the end of this particular book.

[Puddytatpurr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I cried! I always do at Jilly Coopers books!

I found I wanted to read the story of Marcus though, than Abby - I didn't really like her - and towards the end, I could barely sit still while reading through the competition!

Eager to start Score! - the next book in the series.

[Fiona Squires · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just another standard Jilly Cooper tale - a cast of thousands including characters old and new indulge in various kinds of debauchery centered on the Rutminster Symphony Orchestra. If I'd have thought that being a member of an orchestra was this much fun, I would have kept up playing the flute.

[Dee W. · Rating 2 out of 5]

I hate this book. I hate all her books. None of her characters are worthwhile human beings. Grr.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good read, took me a while to read it though.

[A]

Excellent novel for anyone interested in music, operas, etc..