As a girl, Sabrina Langlois loved to sing but suffered from terrible stage fright.
It’s a good thing she has conquered it because her co-stars in “The Secret River” include a bear and an alligator — and that’s enough to make anyone a little nervous.
OK, the animals will actually be puppets when Opera Orlando revives “The Secret River,” a family-friendly 65-minute chamber opera, March 6 and 7 at Mead Botanical Garden. The production is special to the opera company as it was the first work it ever commissioned; the revival is in honor of Opera Orlando’s 10th anniversary.
Langlois, who grew up in Port St. Lucie, is honored to be part of it.
“It is so exciting to present this beautiful story in front of Orlando audiences,” says the 26-year-old in a phone conversation from Los Angeles, where she’s now based.
Based on the children’s book by acclaimed Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, with a libretto by Mark Campbell, “The Secret River” tells the story of Calpurnia, a young Florida girl whose family is faced with a crisis: A food shortage. So she does something about it, discovering the titular waterway in her adventures.
“She’s a very smart young girl,” Langlois says. “She’s able to bring all this fish back and save her family.”
Calpurnia is braver than Langlois was at her age. Like many, she started singing in church. But when she had to solo, she could only do it with moral support.
“My mom would have to stand with me in front,” she says with a laugh. “It was bad. It was like pulling teeth.”
Soprano Sabrina Langlois, a Florida native, will return to the Sunshine State to star in “The Secret River” for Orlando Opera. (Courtesy Opera Orlando)
She conquered her stage fright — mostly — singing in her high school’s choir.
“I slowly gained confidence,” she says. “Even now, I still get nervous, but I have a certain command over it.”
Langlois came to the attention of Opera Orlando when she auditioned for the company’s studio-artist program a few years ago. She wasn’t chosen then, “a testament to everything not being linear,” she says, but she still impressed.
“When we first heard Sabrina as an applicant to our studio-artist program, we were most impressed by the beauty of her voice and the sincerity of her acting and presence,” says Opera Orlando general director Gabriel Preisser. “While the repertoire that was to be assigned to our studio-artist soprano was not the right fit for her, we knew this specific role would be, and we were thrilled that she could accept the offer to join us for this remount of our first commissioned opera.”
Preisser can’t wait for audiences to see Langlois as Calpurnia.
“We knew she would be a perfect fit for the role and capture the youthfulness, curiosity and joy of that character,” he says. “She is going to be wonderful and endear herself to the young audience that we are expecting to have in attendance at Mead Garden.”
That’s right: Mead Botanical Garden. “The Secret River” will be staged on its outdoor Grove Stage to reinforce the natural elements of the story. The “animals,” crafted by MicheLee Puppets in Orlando for the world premiere in 2021, will venture out into the audience during the opera and will also interact with the viewers post-show.
There will be trappings of traditional opera, as well: An orchestra will play composer Stella Sung’s score, dancers from Inez Patricia School of Dance will take the stage, and, rest assured, chairs will be provided for the audience. But, Preisser said, operagoers are also welcome to bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets if they choose. In deference to the outdoors, a bottle of water is also included with each ticket.
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Langlois is happy about the unconventional setting: “You’ll feel you’re brought into the story that way,” she says. And she’s thrilled to be part of a new work in the opera repertoire.
New works and those rarely performed have a special interest for her; she recently starred as Zerlina, a comedic role, in a new production of “Fra Diavolo” — an 1830 opera that almost never gets staged today — for Pacific Opera Project in Los Angeles.
“It was really funny,” she says. She enjoyed introducing that character to a new generation of operagoers. “There’s so much freedom to be the first person they see in a role.”
Among her other roles in new or innovative operas are Penelope in Kay Rhie’s “Quake,” Dr. Veronica Vera in the workshop production of “The Grand Hotel Tartarus” by Grammy Award-winning composer Richard Danielpou, and a soprano soloist in “Omar’s Journey,” by Rhiannon Giddens, at the Ojai Music Festival in California.
Orlando’s support and talent bring ‘The Secret River’ to life
A graduate of the University of Miami, where she received a degree in music education, and UCLA, where she earned a master’s degree in music performance, Langlois also has performed more traditional roles such as Despina in “Così fan tutte,” Anne Trulove in “The Rake’s Progress” and Adina in “L’elisir d’amore.”
She also keeps busy with concerts and educational work, including a recent stint with Des Moines Metro Opera in Iowa, giving community and student performances.
“Every opportunity has been such a blessing,” she says.
Performing in “The Secret River” will offer the young soprano a couple of significant firsts: Her first professional engagement in her home state and the first time family and friends will see her in a professional setting.
Langlois can’t wait to share Calpurnia’s story.
“She takes it upon herself, so brave and courageous, to seek a solution to her family’s situation,” she says. “I’m sure so many children will be inspired.”
Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more entertainment news and reviews at orlandosentinel.com/entertainment or sign up to receive our weekly emailed Entertainment newsletter.
‘The Secret River’
• Where: Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S. Denning Drive in Winter Park
• When: 7:30 p.m. March 6-7
• Cost: $31.59 general admission; VIP seats, with pre-show reception, are $125
• Info: operaorlando.org/river26