In 1999, Pierre Morhange, a Conducting performing in the United States, is informed that his mother has died before a concert. After the performance in which he conducted the Künstlerleben by Johann Strauss II, he returns to his home in France for her funeral. An old friend named Pépinot arrives at his door with a diary which belonged to their teacher, Clément Mathieu. They proceed to read it together.