Bellini’s opera Bianca e Fernando was premiered in Teatro Carlo Felice (Genoa) in 1828. The majority of this opera came from an earlier version from 1826 entitled Bianca e Gernando rather than Bianca e Fernando as using any form of the heir to the throne’s name, Ferdinando, on stage was prohibited. The music in this setting is taken from the Act II Romance ‘Sorgi, il padre’ for Bianca and Eloisa. Gallay must have particularly appreciated this opera as this theme also appears in his collection Recreations Musicales sur des Motifs Italien (Op. 44) whilst other themes are used in his Fantaisie sur Bianca e Fernando (Op. 47/2).