Paying homage to Dame Nellie Melba, Australian soprano Lorina Gore’s debut recital disc is just peachy, I’m pleased to report. Her sound, with its radiant, shimmering quality, has a touch of steel at the top and some weight to it – you never feel that she’s underpowered or too blowsy for the ladies on this disc.

Thankfully, Gore takes pains to ensure each selection sounds distinct from the other. For instance, she brings an intriguingly womanly quality to Caro Nome, normally nothing more than an extended birdcall. The wistfulness and wonder that she breathes into “Gualtier Maldè” is magic, while her feel for both Verdi’s legato line and two-note phrases captures Gilda’s flurry of emotions. The...