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| {{no footnotes|date=November 2013}} | {{no footnotes|date=November 2013}} | ||
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"'''Largo al factotum'''" (Make way for the ]) is an ] from '']'' by ], sung at the first entrance of the title character; 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 the Latin where it literally means "do everything." | ||
| Due to the constant singing of ] in ] at an ] ] tempo, the piece is often noted as one of the most difficult ] arias to perform. This, along with the tongue-twisting nature of some of the lines, insisting on Italian superlatives (always ending in ']'), have made it a ] in which a skilled baritone has the chance to highlight all of his qualities. | Due to the constant singing of ] in ] at an ] ] tempo, the piece is often noted as one of the most difficult ] arias to perform. This, along with the tongue-twisting nature of some of the lines, insisting on Italian superlatives (always ending in ']'), have made it a ] in which a skilled baritone has the chance to highlight all of his qualities. | ||
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| ==In popular culture== | ==In popular culture== | ||
| The |
The overture and ''Largo al factotum'' have been famously parodied in ] starring ] ('']''), ] ('']'' and '']''), ] and ] ('']''), ] ('']'') ] ('']''), as well as in ]'s '']'' and Warner Bros' '']''. | ||
| "Largo al factotum" was also used as the base in the final section of the Italian cartoon, "Opera" by Bozzetto and Manuli. | |||
| It has also been parodied in Latin America by the famous Mexican TV show "El Chavo del Ocho" (The kid from apartment eight), where one of the neighbors, the ever unemployed and unemployable Don Ramón (played by the late Ramón Valdés) gets a job as a hairdresser. The scene at the barber shop begins with him doing a haircut to a customer and singing "Figaro, figaro, figaro, figaro, figaro" in a clear reference to "Largo al factotum". | |||
| The bellhop in "Lend Me a Tenor" sings the beginning of 'Largo al factotum' when calling with a wake-up call for Merelli. | |||
| ''Largo al factotum'' is sung by a mustached baritone, a stop-motion animated clay figure, in the opening credits of the 1991 film '']'' (performed by Earle Patriarco), and by an animated bird in the opening credits of the 1993 film '']'' (sung by actor ]). | |||
| Singer-songwriter ] has admitted that the tune of his hit song "]" is based on "Largo al factotum."{{Citation needed|date=November 2011}} | |||
| The Italian band ] performed a rock version of this song on the ] stage in 2008, dressed in XVIII-century style. | |||
| ] performed this at his audition in season 5 of '']'' and stunned the judges and audience with his rendition. His outrageous clothes and makeup led the people to prejudge the performance. Expecting a disaster, instead they found the 3rd runner-up of Season 5. | |||
| ==External links== | ==External links== | ||
| *{{YouTube|rmTcmBn56Jk|"Largo al factotum"}}, ] | *{{YouTube|rmTcmBn56Jk|"Largo al factotum"}}, ] | ||
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{{Figaro Trilogy}} | ||
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Revision as of 12:06, 28 January 2014
 | This article includes a list of references, related reading, or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please help improve this article by introducing more precise citations. (November 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message) |
"Largo al factotum" (Make way for the factotum) is an aria from The Barber of Seville by Gioachino Rossini, sung at the first entrance of the title character; 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 the Latin where it literally means "do everything."
Due to the constant singing of triplets in 6/8 meter at an allegro vivace tempo, the piece is often noted as one of the most difficult baritone arias to perform. This, along with the tongue-twisting nature of some of the lines, insisting on Italian superlatives (always ending in '-issimo'), have made it a pièce de résistance in which a skilled baritone has the chance to highlight all of his qualities.
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In popular culture
The overture and Largo al factotum have been famously parodied in animated cartoons starring Woody Woodpecker (The Barber of Seville), Bugs Bunny (Rabbit of Seville and Long-Haired Hare), Porky Pig and Daffy Duck (You Ought to Be in Pictures), Sylvester the cat (Back Alley Oproar) Tom and Jerry (The Cat Above and the Mouse Below), as well as in Tex Avery's Magical Maestro and Warner Bros' One Froggy Evening.
"Largo al factotum" was also used as the base in the final section of the Italian cartoon, "Opera" by Bozzetto and Manuli.
It has also been parodied in Latin America by the famous Mexican TV show "El Chavo del Ocho" (The kid from apartment eight), where one of the neighbors, the ever unemployed and unemployable Don Ramón (played by the late Ramón Valdés) gets a job as a hairdresser. The scene at the barber shop begins with him doing a haircut to a customer and singing "Figaro, figaro, figaro, figaro, figaro" in a clear reference to "Largo al factotum".
The bellhop in "Lend Me a Tenor" sings the beginning of 'Largo al factotum' when calling with a wake-up call for Merelli.
Largo al factotum is sung by a mustached baritone, a stop-motion animated clay figure, in the opening credits of the 1991 film Oscar (performed by Earle Patriarco), and by an animated bird in the opening credits of the 1993 film Mrs. Doubtfire (sung by actor Robin Williams).
Singer-songwriter Mika has admitted that the tune of his hit song "Grace Kelly" is based on "Largo al factotum."
The Italian band Elio e le Storie Tese performed a rock version of this song on the Festival di Sanremo stage in 2008, dressed in XVIII-century style.
Prince Poppycock performed this at his audition in season 5 of America's Got Talent and stunned the judges and audience with his rendition. His outrageous clothes and makeup led the people to prejudge the performance. Expecting a disaster, instead they found the 3rd runner-up of Season 5.
External links
- "Largo al factotum" on YouTube, Hermann Prey
- "Largo al factotum" on YouTube, Nyle Wolfe
- The Aria database
- NoteWorthy Composer file at the NoteWorthy Scriptorium