Chevalier de Saint-Georges

Général Dumas

Dumouriez
Hérault de Séchelles

Lefebvre de Beauvray

Marquise de Créquy

Georges de Bologne

Narcisse
Marie-Antoinette

Maitre d'armes
Nanon

Choderlos de Laclos

A history of the French Revolution beginning from the decision of the king to convene the Etats-Generaux in 1789 in order to deal with France's debt problem. Part one spans the event until August 10, 1792 (when the King Louis XVI lost all authority and was imprisoned). Part two carries the story through the end of the terror in 1794.

The film covers a hundred years in the lives of the Ricordi family, the Milan publishing house of the title, and the various composers and other historic personalities, whose careers intersected with the growth of the Ricordi house. It beautifully draws the parallel between the great music of the composers, the historic and social upheavals of their times, as well as the "smaller stories" of the successive generations of Ricordi.