Mary, an aspiring opera singer, trains under famed maestro Guilio Monterverdi. Their professional relationship turns romantic amid hard work and clashes, but jealousy and misunderstandings hinder their love's expression.
Mary Barrett is an aspiring Opera singer who is taken under the wings of a famous operatic maestro, Guilio Monterverdi. After spending endless working hours together and arguing, their relationship develops into love. But, jealousy and misunderstandings prevent Mary and Guilio from acknowledging their true feelings.—Kelly
Despite losing a radio opera singing competition - the winner to train under renowned Milan-based vocal coach Guilio Monteverdi - Mary Barrett decides to move to Milan anyway to pursue her dream of an operatic career. By happenstance, Monteverdi hears Mary sing and does take her under his tutelage. He insists that she live with him solely as his singing protégé. He states that there is no romantic innuendo intended in his offer. Theirs is a rocky relationship. He is a stern teacher and disciplinarian, but under his methods, she does become a great operatic singer, however one that still does require his support and guidance. Despite their initial proclamations to the contrary and Mary's relationship with Bill Houston, Mary and Monteverdi do fall in love. However, Monteverdi's disgruntled ex-student and ex-lover, Lally, will do whatever she needs to break them up, both professionally and personally.—Huggo
Opera singer Mary Barrett leaves to study music in Milan, Italy to the disappointment of her family in New York City. Mary gets a job at the Cafe Roma, where Giulio Monteverdi, a famous vocal coach, hears her sing. Giulio promises to make Mary a star if she will allow him to control her life. He also tells her that there cannot be any romance between the two of them, as that would distract from the process of growing her talent. Mary discovers she has stagefright as she prepares for a tour of provincial opera houses, however Giulio helps her overcome it.
Years later, still under Giulio's tutelage, Mary begins to tire of his dominance and discipline. The two meet one of Giulio's old pupils, Lally (Mona Barrie), while in Vienna. Lally once tried to be romantic with Giulio, but was rejected. This past history renders Mary jealous and she pretends to have laryngitis. Mary thinks Giulio has gone to Lally to rekindle a romance, and so visits Bill Houston (Lyle Talbot), a longtime friend who has proposed marriage. In a jealous huff, Mary decides not to sing that night in order to punish Giulio. Giulio realizes what is going on and tells Mary that Lally will replace her on stage, but then proposes to Mary.
She decides to go on, and Mary's performance of Bizet's Carmen wins her an invitation to the Metropolitan Opera, her dream venue. Giulio, however, still does not believe that she is ready for such a venue. Later at dinner, Lally lies to Mary by telling her that she is still involved with Giulio. On the night of her debut in Madame Butterfly, Mary is too nervous to go on stage until she sees Giulio in his usual place in the prompter's box.
