 After he and Giuditta Pasta (for whom the opera was to be written) had together seen the ballet based on the very different play, Tedaldi-Fores' "Beatrice Tenda", in Milan in October 1832, she became enthusiastic about the subject and the composer set about persuading Romani that this was a good idea.Romani, who had his own concerns, the principal one being the close parallels with the story told in Donizetti's "Anna Bolena", an opera which had established that composer's success in 1830.Against his better judgment, he finally agreed, although he failed to provide verses for many months.