Act One
The Citizens of Vienna are taking a stroll in the spring sunshine in front of the lodging house where Franz Schubert, the composer, lives. although he is now quite famour for his music it has brought him none of the luxuries of life and he is still struggling to make an existance. Litzi and Fritzi, the daughters of Otto Zell the court glass maker, arrive to keep a secret assignation with their young men Binder and Brun. Their youngest sister Mitzi has come along to chaperone them much to the dismay of the two young men. As they hear someone approach they rush to hide so that no one will learn of their meeting and inform their strict father. Schubert's four best friends - Vogl, Kuppel, Schwind and Baron Franz von Schober arrive, having decided to treat Schubert to a meal which they know he could not possibly afford to buy himself. Schober insists that Schubert should sing one of his latest compostions in payment of his meal and they proceed to have a riotious picnic lunch out on the street. Mr Zell, having discovered his daughter's plans arrives in search of them, but not finding them there decides to patrol the pavement outside where he will be able to catch them arriving or departing. Baron Schober is reknowned for his love of the fairer sex and Vogl now reveals that Schober has developed a relationship with Taliani, the theatres leading lady. Unfortunately for Schober, Taliani's current admirer Count Scharntorff is a very jealous man and has resolved to uncover Taliani's "unknown secret admirer". Litzi, Mitzi and Fritzi, now discover that their father is waiting outside for them and Schober divises a plan to resolve their difficulties. He arranges that Mitzi should tell her father that she came to ask Franz Schubert to give her singing lessons. He then persuades Mr Zell, with some help from a bottle of wine to select as his sons in law the two admirers that Litzi and Fritzi had already chosen for themselves.

Act Two
A reception is being held in the Zell's drawing room to celebrate the double wedding of their two daughters. Baron Schober's plan having been very successful. Taliani having discovered that Schober is at the reception arrives on the pretext of having broken a vase, she wishes Zell to replace for her, and succeeds in being invited to stay. On meeting Schober she tackles him about his reasons for being at the reception thinking he is there to meet some other lady friend. She tries to get him to elope with her and eventually gets him to promise to meet her the following morning in the patisserie to discuss the matter. Novotny a private investigator employed by Count Scharntorff to discover the identity of Taliani' s new admirer arrives and enroles the help of Zell in his task. Schubert, basically a very shy man, realises that he is falling in love with Mitzi, but finds it very difficult to express himself. At the very moment he finds the courage to take her in his arms he is interupted by Schober. Taliani arrives and finding Schober with Mitzi is determined to elimate her supposed rival. She convinces Mitzi that Franz is not to be trusted, but due to the confusion of names she believes mistakenly that it is Franz Schubert she is being warned against. At last the newly weds make their departure and Mr & Mrs Zell find themselves alone. Schober comes back to console them along with his friend Schubert to discover that Zell now considers himself to be the secret admirer of Taliani. Schubert then asks Schober to put his case to Mitzi for him because he is too shy himself, but while doing so Schober suddenly realises that he himself has fallen deeply in love with Mitzi and that his love is returned. Schubert having seen this is quite desolate.