Olivo e Pasquale was composed during Donizetti's five month stay in Rome of 1827. It was during this time that he courted and proposed to Virginia, who eventually became his wife. He composed several pieces in 1827 specifically for her, as gifts in honor of their courtship, but during this time he was also concerned with becoming more financially stable, so that he appeared a worthy suitor in her family's eyes. He accepted a position at the Teatro Nuovo in Naples, as their musical director. He also agreed to compose four operas for the Neapolitan impresario Barbaja. Olivo e Pasquale was first given at the Teatro Valle in Rome on January 7, 1827. The libretto was written by Jacopo Ferretti, and based on a comic play by Sograti, also called Olivo e Pasquale. The humor centers around contrasts between stereotyped personalities, and there is a touch of pathos in the romance, as Isabella convinces her buffo suitor Le Bross to help her gain her father's consent to marry the man she loves. Originally the male romantic lead was given to a female en travesti singer, but Donizetti later rewrote it for the tenor voice. The highlight to this opera is the act two duet "Isabella, voi scherzate?" between Isabella and Le Bross. The revised version of Olivo e Pasquale was given at the Teatro Nuovo on September 1, 1827, and was a moderate success.

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