A sweeping biography of the opera composer, from his early struggles and wife's death to his later political involvement,a new relationship,final rejuvenation and acclaim.

A sculptor leaves his model alone in his atelier. The model, named Faith, is afraid of being left alone in the study, approaches the fireplace and lies down on the sofa, and in the study, there is also a marble statue of a faun.

Dame Eleonora Duse plays a poor woman who, incapable of raising and feed him, leaves her illegitimate son with foster parents. Before she leaves her boy, the woman gives to the child an amulet in order to protect him. The amulet will be the key to put him in connection with his old mother when the boy grows up.

Mario, an unknown painter, remains struck and obsessed with meeting a famous poet, already married, who will be able to charm him, so that he will no longer have the talent created to be able to paint.

Frau Menichelli performs the part of Frau Natka, a Russian countess with a troublesome past and an uncertain future. She was married to a revolutionary and the matrimony ended in tragedy.