The comic opera 'La pietra del paragone' was Rossini's first assignment for renowned opera house La Scala in Milano. Donna Fulvia, Baroness Aspasia and Margravine Clarice all claim to be in love with the rich Count Asdrubale. The count himself has taken a fancy to Clarice, but how does he find out if her feelings are genuine? He comes up with a plan that involves him staging his own financial ruin. Donna Fulvia and Baroness Aspasia pack it in straight away but Clarice continues to support the count. When she finds out it was all a set up she is not amused and decides to give him a dose of his own medicine.