RICHARD OLLARSABA
SIDE QUEST: QUIXOTE
the men of La Mancha
a recital centered on Miguel de Cervantes' beloved mad-knight of literature, stage and screen
SIDE QUEST: QUIXOTE, the men of La Mancha
***Highlights Reel***
Richard Ollarsaba - bass-baritone
Aurelia Andrews - piano
Brian DeMaris - piano
Ollarsaba presents Miguel de Cervantes' endearing idealist with a program musically highlighting the triumphs and tribulations of the knight-errant, Don Quixote and the characters closest to him.
Program repertoire includes selections from opera, zarzuela, American musical theatre, and the song sets of three composers who competed to have their music feutured in the first all-sound film adaption of the classic Spanish novel.
Side Quest: Quixote
Program Information
Side Quest: Quixote
Season Presentation Program
25/26 *DEBUT* SEASON PROGRAM PRESENTERS
October 2, 2025
UW-Milwuakee, Peck School of the Arts
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November 8, 2025
Arizona Opera
March 5, 2026
Piedmont Opera
ORIGINS
My interest in Don Quixote inspired repertoire began when I was first introduced to the four songs by Ibert as part of my Jr. Recital program toward earning my undergraduate degree. However when given the opportunity to make my role debuts as Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote in my first production of Man of La Mancha, I was compelled to curate a program that would be an extension of everything I had poured into crafting those stage characters.
Fortunately there is a large amount of vocal works setting texts and themes from Cervantes' novel that I hope to add and exchange to this program model going forward, thereby making it a living testament to the indomitable spirit of a mad-knight believing the impossible can be made possible - an ideal that I have found is as relevant today as it was when it was first introduced 400 years ago.
Encore: "The Impossible Dream"
Eric McEnaney - piano
video: Piedmont Opera presentation
