The Great Nordic War was in full swing, and the Danes and Norwegians had heard with increasing wonder and excitement about a series of victorious and daring feats practiced by a young frigate commander, Captain Lieutenant Peter Wessel. In the film, we meet the handsome naval hero as he sails home to Copenhagen with the frigate "Løvendal's Galley", which is heavily molested after fierce skirmishes with the enemy.

A renowned and widowed otolaryngologist hires a young, penniless poet as live-in nanny for his three rowdy – but musically gifted – children.

In 1801, the composer Weyse's cousin, the cheerful Henriette Frisch, advised her cousin to take in some student boarders in the house, so that he would not have to provide so much musical information, but could have more time to compose. The result, however, was that Weyse had to take on even more students to feed the boarders, and it was particularly bad with the gifted student Kramer, whose wealthy uncle would not send any more money.