The Abduction of Figaro

The Abduction of Figaro is a comic opera in three acts, described as "A Simply Grand Opera by P. D. Q. Bach", by 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, K. 384, and The Marriage of Figaro, K. 492. Those two operas, as well as Così fan tutte and Don Giovanni, and Gilbert and Sullivan's The Pirates of Penzance are among the core inspirations for the piece. The Abduction of Figaro is numbered S. 384, 492 in Schickele's catalogue of works.

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

Roles, voice types, premiere cast

Role	Voice type	Premiere cast, 27 April 1984 Conductor of chorus, corpse de ballet, orchestra of the Minnesota Opera, the whole schmeer: Peter Schickele
Al Donfonso, Pasha Shaboom, Papa Geno	bass	Leroy Lehr
Susanna Susannadanna, Mama Geno	mezzo-soprano	Dana Krueger
Pecadillo	tenor	Bruce Edwin Ford
Donna Donna	soprano	Marilyn Brustadt
Blondie	soprano	Lisbeth Lloyd
Donald Giovanni	bass-baritone	Michael Burt
Schlepporello	almost-a-baritone	Jack Walsh
Captain Kadd	basso	Will Roy
Opec	bargain counter tenor	John Ferrante
Figaro	silent	Arthur Kaemmer
Stage Director		Michael Montel
Choreographer		Larry Hayden
Set Designer		John Lee Beatty
Costume Designer		Gail Bakkom
Wig & Make-up Master		Richard Stead
Lighting Designer		Ruth Roberts
Video Editor		Daniel Mercure
Television Director		Kaye S. Lavine
Television Producer		Stephen Schmidt
The theme to Culture on Parade is performed by the London Serpent Trio.

Synopsis of scenes

1. Introductory remarks by Prof. Peter Schickele
2. Opening credits
3. Overture
Act 1: A town on the seacoast of Spain or Italy or somewhere
Scene 1: Figaro's bedroom in the palace of Count Almamater
4. Introduction: "Found a peanut!"
5. Recitative: "Ah, dear husband"
    Aria: "Stay with me"
6. Recitative: "Suzanna"
7. Recitative: "Dog!"
    Aria: "Perfidy, thy name is Donald"
8. Recitative: "I am distraught"
9. Quartet: "Love is gone"
Scene 2: A courtyard of the palace
10. Recitative: "Well, here we are"
11. Aria: "Behold, fair maiden"
12. Recitative: "Just a moment"
      Duet: "Thy lofty tree"
Scene 3: Figaro's bedroom
13. Recitative: "And here is my husband"
14. Recitative: "Hold it!"
      Aria: "My name is Captain Kadd"
15. Recitative: "Now that you've heard"
16. Sextet: "What a downer!"
Scene 4: The courtyard
17. Recitative: "Schlepporello"
      Aria: "No man"
Scene 5: At the dock
18. Recitative: "What a strange turn of events"
19. Quintet and chorus: "Ah, though we must part"
20. Act 1 finale

21. Introduction to act 2
Act 2: Somewhere in the Turkish Empire
Scene 1: At the seashore
22. Duet: "God be praised"
Scene 2: In front of the Pasha's palace
23. Aria: "Fish gotta swim"
24. Chorus: "Hey, make way"
25. Dance of the Seven Pails
26. Recitative: "Your immenseness"
27. Duet, chorus, and dialogue: "Who is the highest"
28. Quartet: "May I introduce"
Scene 3: A courtyard of the palace
29. Dialogue and recitative: "Why?"
      Aria and dialogue: "Macho, macho"
30. Cavatina and dialogue: "You can beat me"
31. Act 2 finale

Act 3: A tropical forest
32. Ballet
33. Trio and dialogue: "A magic forest"
34. Duet and dialogue: "I am a swineherd"
35. Finale (part 1) and dialogue
36. Aria and dialogue: "Why, oh why"
37. Finale (part 2)
38. Curtain calls and closing credits
39. Closing remarks by Prof. Schickele

DVD bonus tracks

• Excerpts from the Gross Concerto for Divers Flutes and Orchestra, S. −2
• Professor Peter Schickele in conversation with Gordon Hunt

External links

• Peter Schickele/P. D. Q. Bach homepage