Carl Czerny is remembered as a pupil and friend of Beethoven and the composer of numerous piano studies, but in his lifetime he was renowned for a prodigious output of brilliant concert works, most of which remain entirely unknown to present-day audiences and performers. Inspired by the most famous and attractive themes from Bel Canto operas which were hugely popular in their time and are still performed today, these sets of variations give full rein to the soloist and are a major contribution to the great pianist composer tradition.