The young musician and composer Josef lives with Beethoven's music copyist in Grinzing. In the evenings, he plays for dances in the Prater, often his own melodies, although he doesn't make much effort to spread them, as they're almost all waltzes, a dance not well-regarded in high society because they're too sweaty. When one evening a lively princess—fresh from the convent—mingles incognito with the Prater crowd and falls in love with the dashing conductor Josef, an entire cultural system of values ​​begins to crumble.

A tourist guide in Naples is taken on by a Viennese woman impressed by his singing, and who regards him as her protege. This film was released as a German version and English Version known as "The City of Song". Brigitte Helm once portrays a beautiful femme fatale who displays her affection and lust for her tourist guide which is paralleled with the main bodied theme of the early romanticist songs played throughout.

Riccardo and his troupe travel around the world performing musical and dance numbers in vaudevillian and circus theaters. Dancer Kitty is so impressed when she hears him sing that she asks to enter the company, but is turned down by Riccardo. Then in the middle of a number at the Winter Garten she pops in and the audience loves it. Now she will try to win Riccardo's heart, although he has a secret from his past that might be an obstacle.