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1952

[[card]]
To Mrs. McLean 
With love & many thanks from  the cast of
[[/card]]


[[card]]
March 9th

1025 MURRAY HILL AVENUE PITTSBURGH 17, PENNSYLVANIA 

Dear Joy, I was really happy to know that you remembered [[obscured]] clear across the [[obscured]] to speak [[obscured]]
[[/card]]

[[envelope note]]
Melanie to Return for history  Frantic bus ride 
Scattering traffic 
smelly, dirty, myste Venice that is 
Folks opera 
Folks theatre

Always people interested in seeing Folk opera
[[/envelope note]]

[[newspaper clipping]]

Joy McLean to sing in Harrogate. 

On Monday evening, members and friends of the Harrogate Music Club, which meets in the Old Swan Hotel, will hear a song recital by the famous American coloured singer, Mrs. Joy McLean, who, during her short visit to this country is becoming a very popular radio artist. Most interesting feature of the recital for music-lovers will be its revelation of the great range of music American artists are prepared to tackle. 

It seems that in America there does not exist that sharp division which prevails here between singers who specialise in, say, the great German songs of Schubert and Brahms, and those who go in for ballads and the modern dance rhythm songs. 

Mrs. McLean began her career significantly, at a tender age, in the "swing" version production of "H.M.S. Pinafore." Her training had followed that universality of style favoured in America; and so on Monday evening, for example, her programme will range from Brahms's "May Night" and Schubert's "Die Junge Nonne" to that newly-revived favourite from George Gershwin's "Porgy and Bess," "My Man's Gone Now."
[[/newspaper clipping]]

[[newspaper clipping]]

Joy MacLean's song recital

When she gave a song recital on Monday for the Harrogate Music Club in the Old Swan Hotel, Joy MacLean, the American soprano, who is on a short visit to this country, took full advantage of the range offered by such an opportunity. Her programme included German and French lieder, an aria from Debussy's "L'Enfant Prodigue," a group of modern European songs, and negro spirituals. 

There can be few singers of Miss MacLean's quality about, and of these few could offer such a catholic choice of song or present their programme so well. Monday's audience was quick to appreciate the musical and intellectual value of the recital, which must rank as the most notable here for many years. 

Miss MacLean is an artist with the gift of a superb voice. If a choice must be made, then her qualities as interpreter were heard at their best in the French songs. Of special interest was a song in the American folk song group from 'Progy and Bess,' the Gershwin musical play which is being given in London with an American negro company. 

Yet above all, the recital was memorable not merely as a piece of virtuosity on the part of an artist with a wide range at her command, but to a greater extent for giving Harrogate people a rare chance of hearing great songs finely sung. 

It is an odd commentary on most singers that with a wonderful repertoire of songs by Schubert, Brahms, Wolf, and others, at their disposal, they will as often as not find some good excuse for not singing them. Miss MacLean demonstrated what a well-balanced programme should include. 

[[/newspaper clipping]]

[[newspaper clipping]]

Leeds-London dash gets part for girl singer

Joy McLean, a young American coloured singer who has been living in Clarendon Road, Leeds--her husband is a student at the University--has joined the London cast of the all-colored production, "Porgy and Bess," at the Stoll Theatre. 

Miss McLean, a soprano, has impressed Leeds audiences with the high quality of her voice and musicianship. She had to cancel many Yorkshire engagements before going to London a few days ago. 

It was the renewal of a business friendship made in America that led her to the Stoll Theatre show. Several years ago she was a member of the Eve Jessaye Choir--and Miss Jessaye is now "in charge of the voices" at the Stoll. 

[[image: black and white photograph]]
Miss McLean

One of the girls in the "Porgy and Bess" ensemble was taken ill and had to leave the cast. Miss Jessaye got in touch with Miss McLean, who hurried to London for an audition before the director of the show, who engaged her at once for a singing part. 

Miss McLean watched the show on Monday and Tuesday, and took her place on the stage last night. 

[[note]] Yorkshire Post- [[/note]]

[[/newspaper clipping]]

Transcription Notes:
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