[21] One notable performance in London was on 9 January 1838, with Frederick Lablache singing the baritone role;[9][22] the English adaptation of Betly was presented there for the first time in 1841.

[23] The French adaptation, prepared by Hippolyte-Julien-Joseph Lucas after the death of the composer, with additional music written by Adolphe Adam,[24][25] premiered in Paris in 1853,[4] but had little success.

[37] In "a double-bill of the same opera by different composers", Le Chalet by Adam was performed before Betly on the same evening at the Stadttheater Solothurn in October 2023 during the 2023-24 season.

Daniele Birman, a young Swiss landowner, is in love with Betly, a beautiful and independent girl, who, however, doesn't return his feelings.

As the opera begins, the inhabitants of Appenzell have prepared for a joke a fake love letter from Betly to Daniele, accepting his marriage proposal.

Sad Daniele stumbles upon a troop of Swiss soldiers under the command of Sergeant Max Starner, and out of desperation tries to enlist in the army.

Max conceals his identity from the sister, and frightens her into believing that if after fifteen days he and his troop depart satisfied, she will have to house the entire regiment.

To calm down anxious Betly, Daniele tells her that the sergeant has apologized, then swears eternal love to her and says he is leaving to join the army.

[41] Donizetti's work on Betly fell during difficult years in his life, marked by the loss of his parents, daughter, and wife, and troubles due to the opera mismanagement in Naples.

[42] With its rustic setting, a baritone soldier, and an independent and beautiful soprano, initially resisting courtship by a good-natured tenor, the plot of Betly bears an obvious resemblance to Donizetti's earlier work, L'elisir d'amore.

[29] Betly's cavatina "In questo semplice, modesto asilo" has been recorded by three leading bel canto repertory exponents of the 20th century, Dame Joan Sutherland,[47] Montserrat Caballé[48] and Margherita Carosio.