Rossini composed his opera buffa, "Il barbiere di Siviglia", when he was 23 years old, to a commission by Teatro Argentina in Rome. The premiere took place in Rome on February 20, 1816; the first three performances being directed by Rossini personally from the harpsichord. The present edition of this trio for flute, clarinet and bassoon is taken from the fourth scene duet: "All'idea di quel metallo", where Count Almaviva would like to speak with his Rosina. The Count has spoken to his servant, Figaro who used to be a servant of Dr. Bartolo, to get him into the latter's house (for a suitably rich reward) and this duet is between them as Figaro outlines his plan.

Born in Florence in 1787, Egisto Mosell was the last member of a family of musicians who were active on the Florentine scene in the final decades of the 18th century and the early 19th. His brother George Mosell was the Director of the Band of the Royal Guards. His brothers Antonio and John Felice played the violin in the Duchy chapel. Mosell was a respected flautist and oboist and played the oboe in the orchestra of the Teatro della Pergola, which belonged to the impresario Alessandro Lanari. In later life Egisto Mosell was in charge of all the Military Bands of the Grand Duchy of Tuscany. He died in his native Florence in 1852.