{"id":168346,"date":"2026-02-25T10:16:09","date_gmt":"2026-02-25T10:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/168346\/"},"modified":"2026-02-25T10:16:09","modified_gmt":"2026-02-25T10:16:09","slug":"florida-singer-is-ready-to-explore-the-secret-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/168346\/","title":{"rendered":"Florida singer is ready to explore ‘The Secret River’"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a girl, Sabrina Langlois<\/a> loved to sing but suffered from terrible stage fright.<\/p>\n

It\u2019s a good thing she has conquered it because her co-stars in \u201cThe Secret River\u201d include a bear and an alligator \u2014 and that\u2019s enough to make anyone a little nervous.<\/p>\n

OK, the animals will actually be puppets when Opera Orlando<\/a> revives \u201cThe Secret River,\u201d a family-friendly 65-minute chamber opera, March 6 and 7 at Mead Botanical Garden<\/a>. 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\u2019s 10th anniversary.<\/p>\n

Langlois, who grew up in Port St. Lucie, is honored to be part of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt is so exciting to present this beautiful story in front of Orlando audiences,\u201d says the 26-year-old in a phone conversation from Los Angeles, where she\u2019s now based.<\/p>\n

Based on the children\u2019s book by acclaimed Florida author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, with a libretto by Mark Campbell, \u201cThe Secret River\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s a very smart young girl,\u201d Langlois says. \u201cShe\u2019s able to bring all this fish back and save her family.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cMy mom would have to stand with me in front,\u201d she says with a laugh. \u201cIt was bad. It was like pulling teeth.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Soprano<\/a>Soprano Sabrina Langlois, a Florida native, will return to the Sunshine State to star in “The Secret River” for Orlando Opera. (Courtesy Opera Orlando)<\/p>\n

She conquered her stage fright \u2014 mostly \u2014 singing in her high school\u2019s choir.<\/p>\n

\u201cI slowly gained confidence,\u201d she says. \u201cEven now, I still get nervous, but I have a certain command over it.\u201d<\/p>\n

Langlois came to the attention of Opera Orlando when she auditioned for the company\u2019s studio-artist program a few years ago. She wasn\u2019t chosen then, \u201ca testament to everything not being linear,\u201d she says, but she still impressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen 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,\u201d says Opera Orlando general director Gabriel Preisser. \u201cWhile 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

Preisser can\u2019t wait for audiences to see Langlois as Calpurnia.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe knew she would be a perfect fit for the role and capture the youthfulness, curiosity and joy of that character,\u201d he says. \u201cShe is going to be wonderful and endear herself to the young audience that we are expecting to have in attendance at Mead Garden.\u201d<\/p>\n

That\u2019s right: Mead Botanical Garden. \u201cThe Secret River\u201d will be staged on its outdoor Grove Stage to reinforce the natural elements of the story. The \u201canimals,\u201d crafted by MicheLee Puppets in Orlando for the world premiere in 2021<\/a>, will venture out into the audience during the opera and will also interact with the viewers post-show.<\/p>\n

There will be trappings of traditional opera, as well: An orchestra will play composer Stella Sung\u2019s score<\/a>, 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.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Secret River\u2019 full of warmth, heart, creative artistry | Review<\/a><\/p>\n

Langlois is happy about the unconventional setting: \u201cYou\u2019ll feel you\u2019re brought into the story that way,\u201d she says. And she\u2019s thrilled to be part of a new work in the opera repertoire.<\/p>\n

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 \u201cFra Diavolo\u201d \u2014 an 1830 opera that almost never gets staged today \u2014 for Pacific Opera Project in Los Angeles.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt was really funny,\u201d she says. She enjoyed introducing that character to a new generation of operagoers. \u201cThere\u2019s so much freedom to be the first person they see in a role.\u201d<\/p>\n

Among her other roles in new or innovative operas are Penelope in Kay Rhie\u2019s \u201cQuake,\u201d Dr. Veronica Vera in the workshop production of \u201cThe Grand Hotel Tartarus\u201d by Grammy Award-winning composer Richard Danielpou, and a soprano soloist in \u201cOmar\u2019s Journey,\u201d by Rhiannon Giddens, at the Ojai Music Festival in California.<\/p>\n

Orlando\u2019s support and talent bring \u2018The Secret River\u2019 to life<\/a><\/p>\n

A graduate of the University of Miami, where she received a degree in music education, and UCLA, where she earned a master\u2019s degree in music performance, Langlois also has performed more traditional roles such as Despina in \u201cCos\u00ec fan tutte,\u201d Anne Trulove in \u201cThe Rake\u2019s Progress\u201d and Adina in \u201cL\u2019elisir d\u2019amore.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery opportunity has been such a blessing,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

Performing in \u201cThe Secret River\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Langlois can\u2019t wait to share Calpurnia\u2019s story.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe takes it upon herself, so brave and courageous, to seek a solution to her family\u2019s situation,\u201d she says. \u201cI\u2019m sure so many children will be inspired.\u201d<\/p>\n

Follow me at facebook.com\/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more entertainment news and reviews at\u00a0orlandosentinel.com\/entertainment<\/a>\u00a0or sign up to receive our\u00a0weekly emailed Entertainment newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u2018The Secret River\u2019<\/p>\n

\u2022 Where: Mead Botanical Garden, 1300 S. Denning Drive in Winter Park<\/p>\n

\u2022 When: 7:30 p.m. March 6-7<\/p>\n

\u2022 Cost: $31.59 general admission; VIP seats, with pre-show reception, are $125<\/p>\n

\u2022 Info: operaorlando.org\/river26<\/a><\/p>\n

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