This is the aria "Ombra mai fù" from Handel's opera "Xerxes" (Serse), a love song of the King of Persia, Xerxes, to a tree. It is one of Handel's best-known melodies and is often referred to simply as "Handel's Largo". This orchestral version is an orchestration for orchestra by August Reinhard (1831-1912, German composer and author of a harmonium school). The instrumentation consists of 2 flutes, 2 oboes, 2 clarinets in B flat, 2 bassoons, 2 horns, 3 trombones, 1 harp, violins 1 and 2, viola, violoncello and double bass.
