The Beatitudes (Bliss) – BBC Symphony Orchestra

"The soprano Emily Birsan was silvery clear"

- The Times

"Soloists Ben Johnson and Emily Birsan impressed, not least in their bright-timbre but in the apparent ease with which they dispatched their unforgiving vocal lines: “O blessed Jesu” is littered with ungrateful leaps which both singers took in their stride."

- BachTrack.com

"The two soloists – Emily Birsan and Ben Johnson – were well cast . . . Birsan’s sweet top register provided the notes of the pastoral lark."

- MusicOMH.com

"The American soprano Emily Birsan is not as yet well-known this side of the Atlantic, but I’m sure we shall be hearing more of her lovely voice in the future."

- Seen and Heard International

"Emily Birsan responded with keen sensitivity and perception to some of Bliss’s most radiant settings for soprano"

- ClassicalSource.com