On August 5, 1768, the Esterházy family celebrated the name-day of Princess Maria Elisabeth at their country estate of Esterháza. The occasion included illuminations and fireworks, balls, dinners, and plays. It appears that the presentation of this, a new opera written to inaugurate the theater, was on September 2 of that same year. It is admirably suited to a relatively small private theatrical establishment, needing only a small orchestra and four singers. The opera was a huge success (Prince Nicolas Esterházy distributed liberal cash gifts to the orchestra and the cast afterwards). It was also the first Haydn opera to be revived, in 1899, Gustav Mahler conducting, and it has continued to be well received in frequent revivals ever since.

The text was a pre-existing libretto by the Italian playwright Carlo Goldoni, which had already been set as an opera by Domenico Fischietti and Vincenzo Pallavicino. The version Haydn set was simplified and made more direct, retaining the funniest parts and those that help the plot zip along. The plot is a pretty stock affair, revolving around an old man who has a lovely young ward and wants to marry her. It includes disguises, scenes involving a fake notary, and a scene with exceptionally inventive "Turkish" music (because one of the characters disguises himself as a Turk). The opera is in two acts, with a tiny little third act added on, almost as an afterthought. Haydn was aware of the problem in dramatic interest that this caused, and so reserved some of his best music (including the Turkish scene) for that act. Unfortunately some of Act Three was lost and has had to be reconstructed. In mood the opera is lighthearted. There is a mock "Sturm and Drang" aria in G minor for the character called Volpino that almost turns out to express real passion, and one comic aria in which the young lady expresses her love for Volpino in music of exceptional charm. The opera is also full of word-painting, presaging that of The Creation.

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