Gli Orazii e I Curiazii was premiered at La Fenice Opera House in Venice on 26 December 1796 at the height of turmoil caused by Napoleon's successful military campaign in Italy. Antonio Sografi based his libretto on a tragedy by Corneille, which in itself is an indication of the spirit of the age. Indeed, he and Cimarosa were following a trend towards the glorification of the republican virtues of ancient Rome in the wake of the French revolution and the spread of its beliefs. Gli Orazii e I Curiazii shows that, somewhat like Rossini, Cimarosa moved with ease between the subjects of comic and of serious opera. Cimarosa's vocal writing is exemplary in its attention to the singers' breathing and to the development of the music and avoids excessively high notes, long vocalizations, vocal acrobatics and over-heavy embellishments.