The Abduction of Figaro 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
June Bronhill Merry Widow", "Orpheus in the Underworld", "Die Fledermaus" and "Rigoletto" at the Sydney Opera House in 1975. In 1976, she decided to move back to Australia permanently. In Australia she appeared in operas such as "Il Seraglio" ("Die Entführung aus dem Serail") and a Victoria State Opera production of Donnizetti's "Maria Stuarda" in July 1976, directed by Robin Lovejoy with a cast including Nance Grant conducted by Richard Divall. She played operetta roles such as Josephine ("H.M.S. Pinafore"), Phyllis ("Iolanthe") and Ruth ("The Pirates of Penzance"). She also had roles in "The Maid of the Mountains", "Call Me Madam", "A