Described as “luminous” (The Guardian) and “radiant” (London Telegraph), soprano Emily Birsan is known to Chicago audiences for her “mesmerizing” (Splash Magazine) performance as Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Previous performances include leading roles at Lyric Opera, Welsh National Opera, Edinburgh Festival, Boston Lyric Opera, Madison Opera and concert performances at Carnegie Hall, BBC Symphony, Ravinia Festival, Grant Park Symphony, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra, and the Chicago Philharmonic. With the Chandos Record Label, Birsan has recorded Elgar's oratorio, The Saga of St. Olaf, with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis.
2021-2022
Susanna in Il Segreto di Susanna with Opera Festival Chicago’s innagural season, Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice with Inland Northwest Opera, Beatriz cover and 2nd Flower with Chicago Opera Theater in La Hija de Rappucini, and appearances with the St. Louis Bach Society and St. Augustine Music Festivals.
2019-2020
Appearances with the Aspen Ideas Festival, Peninsula Music Festival, Mozart’s Requiem with the Bach Society of St. Louis, Beethoven’s Mass in C with the Phoenix Symphony, Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with the Illinois Philharmonic Orchestra, and Handel’s Messiah with the Boise Philharmonic and Tucson Symphony.
2018-2019
In the 2018-2019 season, she went on for an ailing colleague at the Lyric Opera of Chicago as Violetta in La Traviata for which SplashMags.com acclaimed “This opera is about Violetta, and the Lyric has a superb one here." Additionally, she performed Violetta with Nashville Opera, Handel’s Messiah with the Illinois Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, and Louisiana Symphony, Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with the Jacksonville Symphony, the title role in Rusalka with Madison Opera, Mahler’s 8th Symphony with Madison Symphony, and Sandman/Dew Fairy in Hänsel und Gretel with the Edinburgh International Festival.
2017-2018
Joined Sir Andrew Davis and the Liverpool Philharmonic, Violetta in La Traviata with Indianapolis Opera, Handel’s Messiah with the Jacksonville Symphony, a tour singing the role of Maria Callas with Pop-Up Magazine on the West Coast, Mahler’s 4th Symphony with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, and her debut with Welsh National Opera as Donna Anna in Don Giovanni.
2016-2017
Role debuts as Juliette in Gounod’s Romeo et Juliette with Madison Opera, Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro with Boston Lyric Opera, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanni with Florentine Opera. On the concert stage, she made her debut with Melbourne Symphony singing Beethoven’s Missa Solemnis, a concert with the Chicago Philharmonic, and was featured with the BBC Symphony in London singing Bliss’ Beatitudes.
Recent Seasons
Recently, Emily returned to the Lyric Opera of Chicago as the Italian Singer in Capriccio, Leila in The Pearl Fishers with Florida Grand Opera, and Anne Trulove in The Rake’s Progress with the Edinburgh International Festival, among others. Her critically acclaimed performances on the concert stage include Elgar with the Bergen Philharmonic in Norway, Verdi and Puccini with the Knoxville Symphony and her Carnegie Hall debut with Mozart Mass in C minor. With the Chandos Record Label, Ms. Birsan has recorded Edward Elgar's oratorio, The Saga of St. Olaf, with the Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra and Sir Andrew Davis.
Equally at home on the concert stage, Ms. Birsan has performed as the soprano soloist in the Mozart Requiem with the Madison Symphony Orchestra, Schubert’s Mass in Eb with the Grant Park Symphony, Bach’s Matthäus-Passion as well as a concert of Bach Cantatas No. 22 and 32 with the Madison Bach Musicians, and triumphed in “A Mirror on Which to Dwell” by Elliot Carter at the Ravinia Festrival in July of 2014. Ms. Birsan was also featured as a soloist on the Rush Hour Concert Series and has recorded arias for composer Jimmy Lopez’ new opera Bel Canto which will have its world premier at the Lyric Opera of Chicago in 2015.
Ms. Birsan was awarded first prize from the Musicians Club of Women Competition and was the 2014 Richard F. Gold Career Grant through the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Ms. Birsan earned her Bachelor of Music degree from Lawrence Conservatory in Appleton, WI studying with mezzo-soprano Karen Leigh-Post. Master of Music degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s School of Music in 2010, where she performed the title roles in Massenet’s Thaïs, Handel’s Alcina and Donizetti’s Maria Stuarda. A student of Julia Faulkner, Ms. Birsan was also awarded the Paul Collins Fellowship during her residency at the university. Ms. Birsan was Winner of the 2010 Rose M. Grundman Scholarship from the Civic and Arts Union League Competition, First Place in the 2007 Senior Women’s Division of the National Association of Teachers of Singing Competition, and multiple award wins from 2008-2011 at the Upper Midwest Region of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
