PHOTOGRAPHY BY BILLY ROOD; STYLIST: LAW ROACH; STYLIST ASSISTANT: JAYI WOODS; HAIR AND MAKEUP BY JILL GLASER
Emily Birsan
Rising Star: The up-andcoming soprano takes the leap
from student at the Ryan Opera
Center to center stage as
Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito.
Critical Kudos: Last July, the
Chicago Tribune's John von
Rhein noted Birsan's
"amazing clarity of diction,
accuracy of intonation, and
fineness of expression" in her
Ravinia performance of Elliott
Carter's song cycle of Elizabeth
Bishop poems.
Dream Roles: "I feel that there
are roles in a singer's career that
just fit, or that they can connect
to. I tend to like the fiery, totally
crazy, or vulnerable ones." Looking
ahead, Birsan has her eyes on the
roles of Tatyana in Tchaikovsky's
Eugene Onegin and the title role
in Alban Berg's Lulu.
Dress, Pamela Rolland ($1,980).
Neiman Marcus, 737 N. Michigan Ave.,
312-642-5900; neimanmarcus.com.
Bracelet and ring, Swarovski. Vintage
Art Deco ruby and diamond earrings,
private collection
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