The dramatic scena begins with a recitative in C major,[2] taken from Pietro Metastasio's Achille in Sciro.

The aria "Per pietà, non dirmi addio" (For pity's sake, do not bid me farewell) is set in the key of E-flat major,[3] and its lyricist is anonymous.

The work was first performed on 21 November 1796 in the theatre at the Ranstädter Tor in Leipzig,[5][6] with soprano Josepha Duschek as the soloist.

[7] The singer, a friend of Mozart in Prague, advertised it as "an Italian scena written by Beethoven for Mad.

The only extant manuscript by a copyist has a dedication to "Signora Comtessa di Clari", Countess Josephine of Clary-Aldringen.

[2] Another notable performance occurred in 1808 as part of a benefit concert for the composer on 22 December which also featured the premieres of his fifth and sixth symphonies, an excerpt of his Mass in C major, among others.

The singer was the 17-year old Josephine Schultz-Killitschky [de] who stepped in on short notice after others cancelled.

A sister-in-law of the violinist Ignaz Schuppanzigh, she possibly performed, to mixed reaction,[8] from the manuscript which shows changes made by Beethoven.

va, pur fuggi da me, l'ira de' Numi non fuggirai!

Per pietà, non dirmi addio, di te priva che farò?

Dite voi, se in tanto affanno non son degna di pietà?

Pursuing shade, present wherever you go, I shall see my vengeance; I already enjoy it in my mind; I see already lightning flashing about you.