In the freezing cellars of the palace, musicians play unseen for the haunted, cash-strapped Christian IV of Denmark. Meanwhile, his beautiful but petulant consort Kirsten plays out wild fantasies with her lover. In a stately home in Ireland, Francesca, Countess O Fingal mourns her husband's insane pursuit of a tune heard in a dream. She calls for the lutenist Peter Claire to help cure him. But Claire leaves to join Christian's chamber orchestra, where he falls in love with Kirsten's only friend and one she will not relinquish. Trust and betrayal, ligh.