“Ombra mai fu” is an aria from the opera “Serse” by George Frideric Handel. The libretto is based on works by Silvio Stampiglia and Niccolo Minato. It was composed between December 1737 and February 1738. The premiere took place on April 15, 1738, in London, with performances until May 2. The original cast included singers such as Gaetano Majorano (Caffarelli), Maria Antonia Marchesini (La Lucchesina), and Elisabeth Duparc (La Francesina). In this recording, the aria is performed by Lorraine Hunt-Lieberson with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment.
Sources:
– http://www.haendel.it/composizioni/libretti/pdf/serse.pdf
– http://www.librettidopera.it/serse/serse.html
– http://www.cpdl.org/wiki/images/e/e3/Han-omb.pdf