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Set in ancient China, a humble fisherman at his nets is mesmerised by the beauty of a nightingale's song. Rich courtiers arrive, led there by the cook who has told them of the bird's marvellous voice. The court chamberlain tells the bird of the Chinese emperor's desire to hear him. The nightingale agrees to return with them to the court. There, a great feast is being prepared with bustle and anxiety. The emperor appears in splendour and commands the nightingale to sing. Deeply moved by the bird's voice, he offers rich presents, but the nightingale declares that the emperor's tears are reward enough. A delegation from the Japanese emperor arrives with a mechanical nightingale as a gift. Seeing this, the real nightingale flies away. Angered, the Chinese emperor transfers his affections to the Japanese mechanical toy. The emperor falls sick and longs to hear the real nightingale again. The bird arrives and strikes a deal with Death. Death will spare the emperor if the nightingale sings but one more song. So he sings, dawn comes and the emperor recovers. The bird promises to return again each night.
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