The libretto, also by Fortner, is based on Federico García Lorca's play Amor de don Perlimplín con Belisa en su jardín.

Wolfgang Fortner composed the opera on a commission of the broadcaster Süddeutscher Rundfunk (SR) for the opening of the 1962 Schwetzingen Festival.

[3] In seinem Garten liebt Don Perlimplin Belisa premiered at the Schlosstheater Schwetzingen on 10 May 1962 in a production of the Cologne Opera, staged by Oscar Fritz Schuh and with Wolfgang Sawallisch conducting choir and orchestra of the SR.[1][3][4] Lorca had described his text as ever-changing between lyric and grotesque elements, and as fragmentary.

Fortner focused on the serious aspects of a drama of the soul (Seelendrama), following the interpretation of the translator of the play, Enrique Beck.

The sound is coloured by invisible choirs a cappella, celesta, vibraphone, harp, harpsichord, guitar and percussion.