In 19th century Russia, an enigmatic widow with a vast fortune and mother of eleven children, Baroness von Meck, is captivated by Tchaikovsky's innate talent. She decides to support his creative journey by granting him a generous monthly allowance, which will allow him to dedicate himself to his work, on the condition that they never meet. This admiration quickly transforms into love on the part of the baroness, who, however, wanting to keep her feelings for him unchanged and to avoid any deterioration from time and habit, will never meet him. In return, an extensive correspondence develops between them, where the composer expresses his views on music, literature, history, and politics.
However, after fourteen years, the baroness will cease to support him financially and morally when she realizes that the composer reciprocates her love only out of interest and ignores her from every other aspect.
Henri Troyat thus describes this unusual "bond". On one side, the inner world and personality of a musical genius, and on the other, a fascinating woman with the characteristics of a patron and an initiated amateur.