Eileen Joyce - 16901

Beautiful Tasmanian-born concert pianist. Joyce was discovered by Percy Grainger as a child and was sent at the age of 15 to study at the Leipzig Conservatory under Artur Schnabel. In 1930 she was introduced to Sir Henry Wood who arranged her debut in one of his Promenade Concerts. Joyce became a prolific broadcaster and during World War II toured the blitzed cities of Great Britain with Malcolm Sargent and the London Philharmonic. She is perhaps best remembered for her work on film soundtracks, especially Brief Encounter (1945), in which she played Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto, and The Seventh Veil (1945), where she provided the notes for Ann Todd's on-screen playing. Beset by personal demons, on 18th May 1960 at a recital in Scotland, Joyce stepped down from the stage and quietly retired, still at the height of her powers. This is a stunning glossy black and white vintage photograph (8" x 10"), boldly signed ("Kind wishes, Eileen Joyce") in dark blue ink. In very good condition. RARE.