There is no doubt that this beautiful variation theme is by Rossini; it comes from his melodrama La donna del lago. But is the Italian opera genius responsible for more than the melody in this piece, which is found in the repertoire of many clarinetists? The only printed source is a set of parts published by Breitkopf & Härtel in 1823. Although it ascribes the entire piece to Rossini, the experts are not fully convinced. Nevertheless: the variations are perfectly idiomatic for the instrument, and are both lyrical and virtuoso.