It's fitting that the opera's title hero gets the first word, so here is his big aria.
Like most of Rossini's best pieces, Figaro's opening cavatina doesn't follow a rigid structure of "cantabile - cabaletta". The opening section seems to form the main theme which returns several times throughout the piece with contrasting sections providing expressive opportunities (one - lyrical, the other - fast, furious, just as the people who enlist Figaro's help). The piece never really went out of fashion and still remains one of the staples in the repertoire of any good baritone. The piece is so good that you would have to be a bad singer or just a charmless bloke to stop it from charming the audience.
Here Alan Opie sings the part of Figaro. His manner is a bit on the loud side, but it suits the character of the self-assured barber. Enjoy :)!
Watch videos with other singers performing Largo al factotum:
SCENA 2 Figaro, con la chitarra appesa al collo e detto, nascosto
N. 2 - Cavatina
FIGARO Largo al factotum della cittą. Presto a bottega, ché l'alba č gią. Ah, che bel vivere, che bel piacere per un barbiere di qualitą! Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, brayissimo; fortunatissimo per veritą! Pronto a far tutto, la notte e il giorno sempre d'intorno, in giro sta. Miglior cuccagna per un barbiere, vita pił nobile, no, non si dą. Rasori e pettini, lancette e forbici, al mio comando tutto qui sta. V'č la risorsa, poi, del mestiere colla donnetta col cavaliere Ah, che bel vivere, che bel piacere per un barbiere di qualitą! Tutti mi chiedono, tutti mi vogliono, donne, ragazzi, vecchi, fanciulle: Qua la parrucca Presto la barba Qua la sanguigna Presto il biglietto Figaro ... Figaro Son qua, son qua. Figaro... Figaro... Eccomi qua. Ahimč, che furia! Ahimč, che folla! Una alla volta, per caritą! Figaro su, Figaro gił Pronto prontissimo son come il fulmine: sono il factotum della cittą. Ah, bravo Figaro! Bravo, bravissimo; a te fortuna non mancherą.
English Libretto or Translation:
Figaro enters with a guitar around his neck
Cavatina
FIGARO La ran la le ra la ran la la. Make way for the factotum of the city. La ran la la, etc. Rushing to his shop for dawn is here. La ran la la, etc. What a merry life, what gay pleasures for a barber of quality. Ah, bravo Figaro, bravo, bravissimo, bravo! La ran la la, etc. Most fortunate of men, indeed you are! La ran la la, etc.
Ready for everything by night or by day, always in bustle, in constant motion. A better lot for a barber, a nobler life does not exist. La la ran la la ran la, etc.
Razors and combs, lancets and scissors, at my command everything's ready. Then there are "extras" part of my trade, business for ladies and cavaliers La la ran la la la. Ah, what a merry life, what gay pleasures, for a barber of quality.
All call for me, all want me, ladies and children, old men and maidens. I need a wig, I want a shave, leeches to bleed me, here, take this note. All call for me, all want me. I need a wig, I want a shave, here, take this note. Ho, Figaro, Figaro, Figaro, etc. Heavens! what a commotion! Heavens! What a crowd! One at a time, for pity's sake.
Ho, Figaro! - I am here! Figaro here, Figaro there, Figaro up. Figaro down. Quicker and quicker I go like greased lightning, make way for the factotum of the city,
Ah, bravo, Figaro, bravo, bravissimo, On you good fortune will always smile. La la ran la, etc. I am the factotum of the city.