This debut disc by soprano Caroline MacPhie is a beautiful recital of songs inspired or written by women. Including three specially commissioned pieces, she has selected, with pianist Joseph Middleton, a wonderful programme that combines a selection from the much-loved Hugo Wolf Italian Songbook and Strauss’ Ophelia Lieder with Poulenc’s rarely-heard set Fiancailles pour rire and Koechlin’s Sept chansons pour Gladys. Similarly, the English songs include Maconchy’s ever-popular – but hardly recorded – Ophelia’s Song, together with four wonderful songs by Muriel Herbert and the three new commissions by Rhian Samuel and Cheryl Francis-Hoad. This is a fantastic introduction to a rising-star soprano, giving exquisite performances of some enchanting repertoire.