Non più andrai

The Italian libretto was written by Lorenzo Da Ponte based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro (1784).

In this aria, Figaro teases Cherubino about his Spartan military future, in stark contrast with the pleasant and flirtatious life he has enjoyed in the Count's palace.

[1] The libretto of Le nozze di Figaro was written by librettist Lorenzo Da Ponte, who collaborated with Mozart on two other operas, Così fan tutte and Don Giovanni.

Non più andrai, farfallone amoroso, notte e giorno d'intorno girando; delle belle turbando il riposo Narcisetto, Adoncino d'amor.

You shall go no more, lustful butterfly, Day and night flitting to and fro; Disturbing ladies in their sleep Little Narcissus, Adonis of love.

No longer will you have these beautiful feathers, That light, romantic cap, That hair, that glowing countenance, That rosy, womanly complexion.

The catchy tune[3][4][5] and stirring military accompaniment have made this aria popular from the very beginning; indeed at the rehearsals of the premiere the performers burst spontaneously into bravos for the composer (for details see article on Francesco Benucci, who created the role).

Mozart later quoted his own tune, played by a stage band as part of a medley sequence, in his opera Don Giovanni (1787) – evidently aware that the audience would instantly recognize it (the character Leporello, in Don Giovanni's Vienna premiere also sung by Benucci, ironically sings, Questa poi la conosco pur troppo – "Now that tune I know too well").