In 1801, the composer Weyse's cousin, the cheerful Henriette Frisch, advised her cousin to take some student boarders into the house, so that he would not have to give so much musical information, but could have more time to compose. The result, however, has been that Weyse has to take even more students to feed the pensioners, and it is especially wrong with the vocally gifted student Kramer, whose wealthy uncle will not send more money.