Serse

Opera by Handel (libretto by N Minato, altered), produced at the King's Theatre, Haymarket, London, on 15 April 1738. It contains the famous so-called Largo, the aria whose original title was ‘Ombra mai fù/Shade never was’. The original libretto was that for Cavalli's Xerse (1654). In the story, King Xerxes of Persia falls in love with Romilda, who is in love with Arsamene. After complications, the lovers are allowed to marry when Amastre, who was earlier jilted by Xerxes, arrives to reclaim him.