The Havanaise theme, formed using interchanging triplets and duplets, with the last note accented, borrows from Spanish melodies, and is sometimes equated to a habanera. Saint-Saens dedicated the show-piece to Violinist from Havana, Cuba and alumnus of the Paris Conservatory, Raphael Diaz-Albertini. He had toured Europe with Mr. Saint-Saens from the early 1880s. However, it appears that Martin Marsick gave the premier of the piece.