Written in 1820 the opera "Die Zauberharfe" (The Magic Harp) was not a critical success and after only eight performances disappeared from the repertoire. After Schubert's death the overture came to be known as the "Rosamunde" overture in the mistaken belief that it had been used as part of Schubert's incidental music for a play of the same name by Helmina von Chézy.

The overture is in modified sonata form and Schubert borrowed material from his earlier overture "in the Italian style".