Historia de un amor is a bolero written in 1955 by Panamanian composer Carlos Eleta Almarán for his brother Fernando after the death of Fernando’s wife Mercedes Casanovas from polio. The song tells of a man’s heartbreak and loneliness after his beloved is gone. It was first recorded in Argentina as a tango by Héctor Varela and his orchestra with singer Rodolfo Lesica in 1955 - and it quickly rose to fame as part of the soundtrack to the 1956 Mexican film Historia de un amor, starring Libertad Lamarque. The tune has been covered and translated into many languages - becoming one of the most internationally performed Panamanian songs. It is a bolero and has appeared on numerous albums - including Il Divo’s Amor & Pasión (2015).
