"Largo al factotum" (Make way for the factotum) is anaria (cavatina) fromThe Barber of Seville byGioachino Rossini, sung at the first entrance of the title character, Figaro. The repeated "Figaro"s before the final patter section are an icon in popular culture of operatic singing. The term "factotum" refers to a general servant and comes from Latin where it literally means "do everything".
Because of the constant singing ofeighth notes in6
8 meter at anallegrovivace tempo, the piece is often noted as one of the most difficultbaritone arias to perform.[1] This, along with the tongue-twisting nature of some of the lines, insisting on Italian superlatives (always ending in "-issimo"), have made it apièce de résistance in which a skilled baritone has the chance to highlight all of his qualities.[2]
The aria is written inC major. Thevoice range coversD3 to G4 (optional A4), with a very hightessitura.[3] For this reason, fewdramatic tenors have also sung the aria, notablyMario Del Monaco[4] andPlácido Domingo.[5]
Thelibretto to the opera was written byCesare Sterbini.
Original lyrics
Largo al factotum della città.
Presto a bottega che l'alba è già.
Ah, che bel vivere, che bel piacere
per un barbiere di qualità!
Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo!
Fortunatissimo per verità!
Pronto a far tutto, la notte e il giorno
sempre d'intorno in giro sta.
Miglior cuccagna per un barbiere,
vita più nobile, no, non si da.
Rasori e pettini, lancette e forbici,
al mio comando tutto qui sta.
V'è la risorsa, poi, del mestiere
colla donnetta ... col cavaliere ...
Tutti mi chiedono, tutti mi vogliono,
donne, ragazzi, vecchi, fanciulle:
Qua la parrucca ... Presto la barba ...
Qua la sanguigna ... Presto il biglietto ...
Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!,ecc.
Ahimè, che furia! Ahimè, che folla!
Uno alla volta, per carità!
Ehi, Figaro! Son qua.
Figaro qua, Figaro là,
Figaro su, Figaro giù.
Pronto prontissimo son come il fulmine:
sono il factotum della città.
Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo;
a te fortuna non mancherà.
Sono il factotum della città!
Literal translation
Make way for the city's servant.
Off to the shop soon. It is already dawn.
Ah, what a beautiful life, what lovely pleasure
For a barber of quality!
Ah, worthy Figaro! Worthy, superb!
Most fortunate for sure!
Ready to do anything, night and day,
Always around and about.
A betterCockaigne for a barber,
A nobler life, there is none.
Razors and combs, lancets and scissors
Are all here at my command.
There is also resourcefulness, in the trade,
With the young lady, with the young man.
Everyone asks for me. Everyone wants me:
Women, boys, the elderly, girls.
Here this wig; quickly this beard;
Here this bleeding, quickly this note;
"Figaro! Figaro! Figaro!"etc.
Alas, what a fury! Alas, what a crowd!
One at a time, for charity's sake!
"Hey, Figaro!" Here I am!
Figaro here, Figaro there,
Figaro up, Figaro down.
Swift, swifter, like lightning I am.
I am the city's servant.
Ah, worthy Figaro! Worthy, superb;
Fortune will not fail you.
I am the city's servant!
Singable translation[6]
I'm the factotum of all the town, make way!
Quick now to business, morning hath shown, 'tis day.
Oh, 'tis a charming life, brimful of pleasure,
that of a barber, used to high life.
No-one can vie with the brilliant Figaro, no, none.
Always in luck where good fortune is rife. Well done!
Early and late, for all who require me,
Nothing can tire me.
Of all the professions that can be mentioned,
That of a barber is best of all.
Scissors in hand, 'mongst my combs and my razors,
I stand at the door, when customers call.
Then there are cases, quite diplomatic,
Here damsel sighing, thereswain ecstatic.
I am in such request, nor night nor day I've rest,
old men and maidens, matrons and gallants.
"Have you my wig there?" "Quick here and shave me."
"I've got a headache." "Run with this letter."
Figaro, Figaro, Figaro,etc.
No more this clamor! I'll bear no longer!
For pity's sake, speak one at a time!
Eh Figaro! I'm here.
Figaro here, Figaro there,
Figaro high, Figaro low.
I'm indispensable, irreprehensible,
I'm the factotum of all the town.
Ah bravo, Figaro, bravo, bravissimo,
thou art a favorite of Fortune.
I'm the factotum of all the town.
Beyond its frequent operatic and orchestral performances, the aria has appeared in cartoons, includingThe Barber of Seville (a 1944 film withWoody Woodpecker acting as a mischievous barber), the final segment from the 1946Disney filmMake Mine Music, in Tex Avery'sMagical Maestro (1952), and severalChuck Jones cartoons includingLong-Haired Hare (1949),Rabbit of Seville (1950),One Froggy Evening (1955), andThe Cat Above and the Mouse Below (1964). Examples of the song in film includeA Farewell to Arms (1932),For the Love of Mary (1948, by actress/sopranoDeanna Durbin),[7]Hopscotch (1980),Oscar (1991),Ice Age: Collision Course (2016), andLuca (2021).[8][9][10] The aria was the entrance music forItaly during theopening ceremony of the2026 Winter Olympics inMilan andCortina d'Ampezzo.[11]
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