Chapter 3
The selected music was Handel’s ‘Messiah’ and the first rehearsal was called for 10am the next day. Passengers then met their conductor for the first time and he introduced the accompanist, Paul. The conductor was great fun but a stickler for punctuality, so it did not help when Suszanna arrived ten minutes late dressed in a fluffy pink jumper with silver sequins and with a glass of wine in her hand, even though it was still only mid-morning! She flounced in, found a seat, made a great deal of fuss and reserved the right to protect her voice by not singing a note! The conductor completely ignored her – he did not give her even a glance – as he outlined the plans for the performance in Avignon. He explained that the choir would be one part of a specially arranged musical event in
