Song Details
- Album Release Date: 1998-09-30
- Album Name: Mendelssohn / Handel / Bach, J.S. / Strauss, R.: Songs for Counter-Tenor and Orchestra
Song Meaning (Interpretation) of “Serse (Xerxes), HWV 40: Ombra mai fu (Largo)” by George Frideric Handel
“Ombra mai fu (Largo)” is a beautiful and calming aria from George Frideric Handel’s opera Serse (Xerxes). The aria is sung by the title character, King Xerxes of Persia, and the words in Italian are “Ombra mai fù di vegetabile”. Handel’s composition emphasizes the beauty and poignancy of the lyrics, which express the sentiment that there was never a living being so blessed as this tree, offering a gentle reminder of the wonders of nature.
The aria begins with a plaintive duet of strings that gradually build in intensity. The flute and oboe soar over the strings, while the oboe part carries a constant rhythm that drives the music forward. The winds carry this energy until the aria reaches its powerful climax. At this point, it is as if Xerxes is expressing both his admiration and appreciation of the magnificence of the tree and the serenity of its shadow.
The music then calms as the strings capture the tranquility of the tree, the choral part echoing the important words of the aria. The music slowly dissipates over the last few bars, allowing the beauty of the song to slowly sink in with the listener.
Ultimately, Handel’s “Ombra mai fù di vegetabile” in Serse (Xerxes) is a tribute to nature’s beauty and a reminder of how even something as simple as a tree can offer solace and peace. It serves to remind us of the bliss that can be found even in the simple things.