The opera was the first work by Vivaldi to include in its cast the mezzo-soprano Anna Girò, who went on to form a lifelong friendship and professional partnership with the composer.

In 1728 the opera was revived at the small Teatro San Margherita in Venice with an almost identical text, and again in Prague at the Sporck Theatre in the spring of 1732, this time with substantial alterations to the libretto.

During Carnival 1734 the opera was revived at the Teatro San Angelo, this time as a pasticcio using recent music by other composers, including Hasse, Giacomelli and Leo.

Unusually for Vivaldi's operatic scores, the sinfonia is clearly linked with the main opera: it follows the title-page instead of preceding it, and the music of its final movement – a C major version of the opening of the Spring concerto – reappears in the opera's opening chorus, appropriately in praise of spring.

The opera displays a pastoral nature, particularly in its choral and ballet music, that is at times mixed with heroic elements, as in the elaborate celebrations at the end of Act 2, where a hunt is enacted to the inevitable horn accompaniment.

Like the music, the plot intertwines pastoral and heroic elements and centers on the shepherd Nomio, who is in fact Apollo in disguise.

Admeto is forced by the gods to save his kingdom by offering his daughter as a sacrifice to the sea-serpent Pitone, but she is rescued just in time by Nomio.

Finally, however, the intervention of Nomio, revealing his divine identity, saves the situation and Dorilla and Elmiro are reunited.

In a hallowed place surrounded by laurels and plane trees, the king and the afflicted people consult the Oracle of Tempe.

As Admeto kindles the sacrificial flame, the laurels turn into cypresses, blood flows from the plane trees, and letters of fire appear above the altar.

But Nomio is offended by Dorilla's failure to thank him, while the people, carrying the beast's head in triumph, celebrate the end of their ordeal.

The following scene depicts a banquet given in honour of Nomio during which Filindo and his friends prepare their quivers for the hunt.

Now, as Apollo, he commands that Dorilla shall marry Elmiro, and Eudamia wed Filindo, since constancy and sincerity have saved love.