''The Abduction of Figaro'' is a

comic opera Comic opera, sometimes known as light opera, is a sung dramatic work of a light or comic nature, usually with a happy ending and often including spoken dialogue. Forms of comic opera first developed in late 17th-century Italy. By the 1730s, a ne ...

in three acts, described as "A Simply

Grand Opera Grand opera is a genre of 19th-century opera generally in four or five acts, characterized by large-scale casts and orchestras, and (in their original productions) lavish and spectacular design and stage effects, normally with plots based on o ...

P. D. Q. Bach P. D. Q. Bach is a fictional composer invented by the American musical satirist Peter Schickele, who developed a five-decade-long career performing the "discovered" works of the "only forgotten son" of the Bach family. Schickele's music combines ...

", by

Peter Schickele "Professor" Peter Schickele (; born July 17, 1935) is an American composer, musical educator, and parodist, best known for comedy albums featuring his music, but which he presents as being composed by the fictional P. D. Q. Bach. He also hosted ...

. It is a parody of

opera Opera is a form of theatre in which music is a fundamental component and dramatic roles are taken by singers. Such a "work" (the literal translation of the Italian word "opera") is typically a collaboration between a composer and a libr ...

in general, and the title is a play on two operas by

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition r ...

: ''

The Abduction from the Seraglio ''The'' () is a grammatical article in English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite article in English. ''The'' is the m ...

'', 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 ''The Pirates of Penzance; or, The Slave of Duty'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. Its official premiere was at the Fifth Avenue Theatre in New York City on 31 December 187 ...

'' 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 Minnesota Opera is a performance organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It was founded as the Center Opera Company in 1963 by the Walker Art Center, and is known for premiering such diverse works as ''Where the Wild Things Are'' by Oliver ...

, where the piece premiered on April 27 and 28,

1984 Events January * January 1 – The Bornean Sultanate of Brunei gains full independence from the United Kingdom, having become a British protectorate in 1888. * January 7 – Brunei becomes the sixth member of the Association of Southeas ...

. In addition to parodying Mozart, the music incorporates diverse influences and musical quotes, from traditional camp songs like "

Found a Peanut "Found a Peanut" is a traditional song, often considered a children's song, in the United Kingdom, the United States, Australia, Canada, and Israel. In Israel it is titled "I Swallowed a Peanut" (Balati Boten; בלעתי בוטן). It is popular ...

" to popular songs like " Macho Man" by the

Village People Village People is an American disco group known for its on-stage costumes and suggestive lyrics in their music. The group was originally formed by French producers Jacques Morali, Henri Belolo and lead singer Victor Willis following the releas ...

. The opera has been released on VHS and DVD.''The Abduction of Figaro'' DVD
Schickele Emporium

Roles

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 Closing credits or end credits are a list of the cast and crew of a particular motion picture, television program, or video game. Where opening credits appear at the beginning of a work, closing credits appear close to, or at the very end of a ...

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

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Abduction Of Figaro, The P. D. Q. Bach Operas 1984 operas English-language operas English comic operas 1984 video albums Works based on Die Entführung aus dem Serail Works based on The Marriage of Figaro Works based on Così fan tutte Works based on Don Giovanni