In 1861 an unhappy young German woman called Agathe von Siebold arrived in Ireland to take up a position as a teacher. The reason for her heartache? A struggling young composer by the name of Johannes Brahms.

Drawing on little-seen material from the state archives in Münster, composer and music teacher Gerry Murphy uncovers the story of the passionate love affair between Agathe and Brahms, and reveals what became of Agathe in her Irish exile, as well as giving a vivid picture of the composer and his magnificent music.