 Rossini declined, because the company had never performed "La donna".Pillet therefore began collaborating with the composer Louis Niedermeyer and librettist Gustave Vaëz to change the story of "La donna" to a different time and incorporate elements from another Scott work; eventually, with Rossini's blessing, they also added music from "Zelmira" and "Armida".This "pasticcio", "Robert Bruce", was given on 30 December 1846 and “throughout the winter, to appreciative audiences".