Haydn conducted at least a dozen of his operas, Goethe was an admirer, and until the arrival of Rossini, Cimarosa was one of the most frequently performed Italian opera composers of his era. His works, which include his many for keyboard, have a lightness and charm – just as this one does. The word sciolte below bar 5 might not be familiar to some players (it is rarely used). In this context, it means to play with detachment (i.e. non legato).