The tenor Albert Winkelmann is a celebrated artist whom everyone admires for his singing and for whom the women in particular lie in mass at his feet - in short: he is a "darling of the gods". His wife Agathe sees the bohemian spouse's preference for the "weaker sex" with some concern. But Winkelmann always knows how to arrange everything: on the one hand, he lives off his love of life, good to food and drink, and can celebrate and be feasted on by the women of the world. On the other hand, he gives his wife the feeling that they have a home and only she counts for him. Imbued with apparently undiluted happiness, the powerful singer does not believe that anything could ever end his career. But one day his family doctor tells him his life style is bad for his health, more precisely: his heart. As so often, the cheerful artist faces this warning with ridicule and scorn, many continue to rely on him, the darling of the gods, nothing will happen, and he embarks on a South American tour, where he even larger would like to celebrate triumphs.
But on the ground, the hot and humid climate does not appeal to him at all, and not only palpitations are noticeable: To make matters worse, his vocal cords now also become limp, so that Winkelmann can no longer sing and has to cancel his tour. Frustrated and deeply depressed, he travels to Austria. Even his wife does not know how bad his health is. She is glad to finally have him for herself. Winkelmann braced himself against the idea that he would have to retire under these circumstances. Outwardly, he plays the only temporarily exhausted singer, who voluntarily wants to enjoy the tranquility at home on Lake Wolfgang and therefore refuses future offers for performances. In truth, however, it continues to urge him onto the stage, back into the spotlight. One day when he begins to sing another song out of mischief, all of a sudden his voice has returned. Agathe now realizes that her husband, as a retiree, would be heartbroken. His art belongs to everyone, and his world is the stage. He's back having learned his lessons.
But on the ground, the hot and humid climate does not appeal to him at all, and not only palpitations are noticeable: To make matters worse, his vocal cords now also become limp, so that Winkelmann can no longer sing and has to cancel his tour. Frustrated and deeply depressed, he travels to Austria. Even his wife does not know how bad his health is. She is glad to finally have him for herself. Winkelmann braced himself against the idea that he would have to retire under these circumstances. Outwardly, he plays the only temporarily exhausted singer, who voluntarily wants to enjoy the tranquility at home on Lake Wolfgang and therefore refuses future offers for performances. In truth, however, it continues to urge him onto the stage, back into the spotlight. One day when he begins to sing another song out of mischief, all of a sudden his voice has returned. Agathe now realizes that her husband, as a retiree, would be heartbroken. His art belongs to everyone, and his world is the stage. He's back having learned his lessons.
