Ombra Mai Fù - from the Opera Serse

Ombra mai fù' is the opening aria from the 1738 opera 'Serse' by Georg Friederich Handel. The opera itself was a commercial failure, lasting only five performances in London after its premiere. In the 19th century, however, the aria was rediscovered and became one of Handel's best-known pieces. Originally composed to be sung by a soprano castrato (and sung in modern performances of Serse by a countertenor, contralto or a mezzo-soprano), it has often been arranged for other voice types and instruments, including solo organ, solo piano, violin and piano, and string ensembles, often under the title Largo from Xerxes, although the original tempo was larghetto. Performances of this aria are included in several movies like Farinelli (1994) Dangerous Liaisons (1988), and Pride and Prejudice.