The wealthy man Tobias Knopp becomes ever more lonely and quirky over the years. He had let himself go, his girth increased significantly, and his hair fell out. Over that, he waited too long for the right woman and stayed a bachelor involuntarily. But now, he wants to try again one more time and wants to get married after all. But first of all, the right woman for this has to be found, and thus Knopp embarks on a journey to look for a wife all through the German lands. During that, he visits his friends who are already married for a long time and gets all kinds of advice from them on how to get to know a woman and to conquer her heart. On his journey, Knopp then learns much about the different facets of married life. After countless adventures, he, however, doesn’t find an adequate partner and returns home frustrated. But perhaps, his housekeeper might be able to help out?

Vienna in the beginning of the twentieth century. Cavalry Lieutenant Fritz Lobheimer is about to end his affair with Baroness Eggerdorff when he meets the young Christine, the daughter of an opera violinist. Baron Eggerdorff however soon hears of his past misfortune...

During a house concert, the Bach family gets a visit by their son Wilhelm Friedemann, who has just given up his position in Dresden because he no longer could endure the reprisals of his superiors.

In Dresden's classical music world, female students learn from an opinionated conductor and a pompous dance instructor.When their work isn't appreciated, a teacher consoles them, saying Bruckner, Schubert and Wagner were also criticized.

A struggling composer gets one of his pieces into a film program and his wife captures the lead part in the production as well.

The death of the Prime Minister causes a stir in the society of a small ducal residence. While Lord Chamberlain von Gillzing hopes to become the deceased's successor, Weber, his former secretary, is relegated to a minor post as archivist. Baroness von Windegg, previously known as the Prime Minister's mistress, also fears losing her social standing. But when the Baroness hands the archivist a thick package, which Gillzing believes contains the late Prime Minister's diaries, both she and the archivist suddenly find themselves in high demand, and everyone in town fears being mentioned in the diary in some compromising way.