The Abduction of Figaro


The Abduction of Figaro is a comic opera, described as "A Simply Grand Opera by P. D. Q. Bach", which is actually the work of composer Peter Schickele. It is a parody of opera in general, and the title is a play on two operas by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: The Abduction from the Seraglio and The Marriage of Figaro. Those two operas, Così fan tutte and Don Giovanni, as well as Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance are among the core inspirations for the piece.
Schickele was commissioned to "discover" this opera by the Minnesota Opera, where the piece premiered on April 27 and 28, 1984. In addition to parodying Mozart, the music incorporates diverse influences and musical quotes, from traditional camp songs like "Found a Peanut" to popular songs like "Macho Man" by the Village People. The opera has been released on VHS and DVD.

Roles

Synopsis of scenes

Scene One: Figaro's bedroom in the palace of Count Almamater
Scene Two: A courtyard of the palace
Scene Three: Figaro's bedroom
Scene Four: The courtyard
Scene Five: At the dock
Scene One: At the seashore
Scene Two: In front of the Pasha's palace
Scene Three: A courtyard of the palace
DVD Bonus Selections