Úna Palliser Explained

Una Palliser
Landscape:yes
Birth Name:Úna Palliser
Birth Place:Cork, Ireland
Genre:Classical, Balkan, Rock, Irish Folk
Occupation:musician
Instrument:violin, viola, voice, strohviol, piano, accordion
Years Active:2002–present

Úna Palliser is an Irish born, London-based violinist, violist, singer and multi-instrumentalist who as well as being classically trained, is recognised for her proficiency in many musical genres, including rock, jazz, Balkan and Irish folk. She has collaborated as guest soloist with London Chamber Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and many high profile artists including Shakira, A. R. Rahman, Leona Lewis, Terrafolk and Otis Taylor and as the Irish folk singer on several film and television soundtracks, including Mo Ghile Mear on the Specsavers 'Collie Wobble' advertisement.[1] [2] [3] Herself (film), Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV series),[4] My Mother and Other Strangers[5] and .[6] Palliser became a member of the Balanescu Quartet in 2023

Biography

Early life

Una was born in Cork, Ireland where she began learning the violin at 4 years old at the Cork School of Music.[7] [8] She also studied piano and viola and later was a member of the European Union Youth Orchestra under Vladimir Ashkenazy.[9] Palliser won a number of awards including Wolfson Trust Award, a Philharmonia Martin Musical Scholarship Award, and was a string finalist in the RTÉ Millennium Musician of the Future Competition. She won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London where she studied with Garfield Jackson of the Endellion Quartet for 4 years before graduating with a 1st Class Hons Degree in performance.[10] [11]

Career

Una has recorded and performed as a session musician with many artists such as The Killers, Michael Buble, Little Mix, Dionne Warwick,[12] Melanie C, Emma Bunton, P Diddy, Buena Vista Social Club, Robbie Williams, Julian Lennon, Ariana Grande, Josh Groban, Gwilym Simcock, Tim Garland, Maxim Vengerov, Liam Gallagher,[13] The Noisettes, and Elbow.[14] She has performed on a number of television shows including Later With Jools Holland, Late Night with Conan O'Brien, Top of the Pops and Friday Night with Jonathan Ross[15] and appeared in music videos with Mark Ronson, Richard Ashcroft and Josh Groban. Palliser has also recorded on a number of film and television scores including The Lovely Bones, The Princess, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Endeavour, Emancipation, Three Girls, The Cube, and Hold the Sunset.[16]

Palliser was the featured lead singer and violinist/violist on the single 'Still Resist The Storm' on BBC World Music Award Winning ensemble Terrafolk's record Full Circle,[17] which topped the radioplay charts in Slovenia.[18] This led to many years touring and performing internationally as a featured guest artist with Terrafolk and a performance as solo violinist and vocalist with the European Symbolic Orchestra.[19]

She toured Europe as part of Cee-lo Green and Danger Mouse (musician)'s band Gnarls Barkley, as solo violinist/violist on Patrick Wolf's The Magic Position tour of the US and Europe supporting Amy Winehouse and Arcade Fire.[20] She also performed as featured violist on Take That's Beautiful World Tour 2007.[21] [22] [23]

Palliser later toured as violinist with Moby on his Wait For Me tour.[24] and with George Michael on his Symphonica Tour.[25] She also joined Dresden Dolls' Amanda Palmer as guest solo violinist on her UK tour and other subsequent UK performances,[26] [27] also performing with Neil Gaiman.[28] Palliser joined Avalanche City playing violin, glockenspiel, accordion and backing vocals for their UK tour,[29] She has also performed and toured many times as solo violinist with Otis Taylor[30] [31] and toured as backing singer and violinist with Elbow.[32] and as solo violinist with Leona Lewis.

In 2014, Palliser featured in "The Secret Life of Materials", a documentary by Met Films[33] in which she tried out and performed on one of the world's first 3D printed violins.

In 2016, Palliser performed on violin and as singer in the All Irish production of Taming of the Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe[34] where she also sang one of her own compositions in the role of Kate's absent mother.[35] She later performed in Sam Wanamaker Playhouse in Inn at Lydda.[36]

In 2018, Palliser returned to Shakespeare's Globe as musical director and violinist of All's Well That Ends Well at Sam Wanmaker Playhouse.[37]

Palliser's solo vocals and playing was featured in Jez Butterworth 's The Ferryman (play) directed by Sam Mendes at Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on Broadway in 2018–19 following a multi award winning run in London's West End at Royal Court Theatre and Gielgud Theatre.[38]

Palliser performed as guest violin soloist with Indian composer and singer A.R. Rahman at Wembley Arena in July 2017 to celebrate 25 years of his music.[39] She later performed with Rahman at the International Indian Film Academy Awards at the MetLife Stadium in New York.[40] In October 2017 Palliser rejoined Rahman on his Australian and New Zealand tour[41] and later on his Canadian tour.[42]

In 2019 Palliser sang the solo vocals of Vangelis score of Blade Runner at The Royal Albert Hall as the part of Avex International's premiere production of Blade Runner Live film with 12 live musicians. In 2021 she toured the UK with the project. Palliser also led the strings playing electric violin on the project.[43]

Palliser performed as violin soloist with Philharmonia Orchestra and Philharmonia Chorus in February 2022 at Royal Festival Hall London, at the premiere of Outlander (TV series) series 6. The orchestra performed a 15 minute suite before a showing of the first episode of the series with live orchestra, solo fiddle and solo whistles playing the score composed by Bear McCreary.[44] The concert was conducted by James Shearman

In December 2022 Palliser was invited to perform as soloist with the London Chamber Orchestra at St John's, Smith Square in London. She has subsequently collaborated as ensemble leader and soloist with the orchestra on a number of other projects [45] [46] [47]

In 2023 Palliser became a member of the Balanescu Quartet on viola. [48]

Palliser has been described as an 'extraordinary violinist' by the UK's The Independent newspaper.[49] and her voice has been described as 'haunting' by both Metro and Songlines.[50] [51]

Shakira

Shakira invited Palliser to feature as the solo violinist on The Sun Comes Out World Tour where she also sang back up vocals as well as played the accordion, whistles and strohviol.[52] She had a four-minute improvised solo intro to the last song of Shakira's main set, 'Ojos Asi'.[53]

Vocals

Palliser's recording of the Irish folk song "Mo Ghile Mear" has been used on the Specsavers 'Sheep' advert since 2008. She also appears as solo vocalist on Joglaresa’s Christmas album ‘Sing We Yule’ with her version of Don Oíche Úd i mBeithil.[54]

In 2022 her vocals featured on Natalie Holt’s score for Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV series), part of the Star Wars franchise. Palliser’s solo vocals are featured on the soundtrack of 2020 film Herself (film) directed by Phyllida Lloyd singing her arrangement of Irish ballad Lass of Aughrim. She is the solo Irish singer on the end credits of BBC six part tv series My Mother and Other Strangers[5] and the singer of the theme tune for BBC 6 part series .[6] Her voice was also heard as the unseen Banshee and also singing a setting of The Stolen Child by W. B. Yeats in the multi Tony Award winning play The Ferryman in London’s West End and on Broadway.

She is the lead singer and violinist in the four-member band Una & the Balkan Bears which completed its first UK / Ireland tour in May 2010, ending with a performance at Ronnie Scott's Jazz Club in London.[55] Una returned to Ireland in 2013 with her Balkan duo Balkish with accordionist Marko Hatlak to perform alongside Capercaillie.[56]

Personal life

Palliser currently lives in London. She is married to chef James 'Jocky' Petrie,[57] former Head of Creative Development at The Fat Duck and current Group Executive Chef for Gordon Ramsay[58] They have two daughters[59] Her brother Conor Palliser is a conductor and pianist[60] and brother Ronan Palliser is a photographer. Her father plays Irish folk music including harmonica and whistles.

Tours

Theatre

Standing at the Sky's Edge (musical) - (violin/viola chair) - 2022-2023 Royal National Theatre

Come From Away - (dep solo violin/fiddle) - 2019-2022 Phoenix Theatre, London

Hamilton (musical) - (dep violin / viola) - 2021-2024 Victoria Palace Theatre

Moulin Rouge! (musical) - (dep violin / viola) - 2022-2024 Piccadilly Theatre

Girl from the North Country (musical) - (dep solo violin) - 2022

Measure For Measure - (dep violin/vocals) - 2021 Sam Wanamaker Playhouse Shakespeare's Globe

Small Island – (pre-recorded viola) – 2019, 2022 Royal National Theatre

Heart of a Dog - (pre-recorded violin, viola, octave viola) Everyman Palace Theatre

All's Well That Ends Well – (musical director, violin, viola) – 2018 Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

The Ferryman (play) (pre recorded solo vocals, violin/viola)

– 2018–2019 Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre Broadway

– 2017/18 Gielgud Theatre

– 2017 Royal Court Theatre[38]

The Inn at Lydda – (strohviol, violin) – 2016 Sam Wanamaker Playhouse[36]

The Taming of the Shrew (actor-musician + singer) – 2016 – Shakespeare's Globe[34]

Macbeth (dep /understudy solo singer) – 2016 – Shakespeare's Globe

Tribute to Stefan Zweig (improvised violin) – 2015 – Arts Theatre[61]

Reading with Bach (violin with contemporary dance choreography) – 2014 – Trinity Laban[62]

María de Buenos Aires (actor-musician) – 2013 – Cork Opera House[63]

Pagliacci (actor-musician) – 2012 – Everyman Palace Theatre[64]

Abba The Show (violin) – 2012/13 – European tour[65]

Lord of the Rings (musical) (dep viola) – 2007/8 – Theatre Royal, Drury Lane

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change -St Andrew's Theatre Dublin Kings Head Theatre + Edinburgh Festival Fringe[66]

Graffiti Classics World Tour (actor-musician)[67]

Discography

Solo

Specsavers 'Collie Wobble' commercial (solo vocals, arranger) – Soundtree Music – 2008[68]

Tom Jones Television Score (solo violin) - 2023

Obi-Wan Kenobi Film Score (vocals) - 2022

Herself Film Score (solo vocals, arranger) - 2020

JOY Short Film Score(solo vocals) - 2020

Hold the Sunset BBC series soundtrack (Musical Director/coach, solo violin, 2019)

(solo vocals, arranger) - 2017

BBC television series (solo vocals, violin) – 2017

My Mother and Other Strangers BBC television series (solo vocals, violin) – 2016

With Birdy

With Tom Hickox

with Kelli Scarr

with Shakira

with Terrafolk

with Take That

'with Smoke Fairies

Other recordings

Once Upon A Time In Northern Ireland (viola 2023 BBC documentary)

Endeavour (TV series)(viola 2023)

Emancipation (2022 film)(viola 2022)

The Princess (2022 action film)(viola 2022)

With Yeah Yeah Yeahs

With Liam Gallagher

With Nick Powell (musician/composer)

With Little Mix

With Robbie Williams

With J Hus

With Judith Owen

The Dumping Ground BBC series soundtrack (viola, 2016–22)

With Beverley Craven

with Elbow

Three Girls (miniseries)

BBC television series soundtrack – (violin, viola, 2017)[71]

with Liam Gallagher

with Anton Du Beke

Funny Girl (musical) London Cast Recording – (violin, viola, 2016)

with Ghostpoet

with Celeste

with George Michael

With Elsten Torres

with Russell Watson

with Katie Melua

with Carl Barat

with The Killers

with The Choirgirl Isabel

with Aled Jones

with Lisa Lois

with Paloma Faith

with Noisettes / Radio 1's Live Lounge CD

with Brian Eno

With The Brand New Heavies

with Hannah Waddingham

with Mark Ronson ft Amy Winehouse

with Tony Christie

with Peter Kay / Geraldine McQueen

with Gary Barlow / Eliot Kennedy

with Peter Raeburn

with Gnarls Barkley / Later with Jools Holland CD

with Nicky Spence

with All Angels

with The Shapeshifters

with Hugh Cornwell

BBC One's 'Let's Dance' TV theme – BBC (violin, viola)

'Love on a Saturday Night' TV theme – London Weekend Television / ITV (vocals)

Six Degrees of Summer Short Film Score - O2 Guru / Martha Fiennes (violin/viola)

Cast Offs Short Film Score - Garrick Hamm (violin / viola)

Eva Short Film Score – Jeva Films[74] (solo vocals)

By Hook Short Film Score – Virgin Media Shorts / Laura Evers Johns (solo vocals)[75]

Every Good Boy Does Fine Short Film Score – Factory Gate Productions (solo violin)[76]

Trident 'Splash' commercial – Soundtree Music (composer, string arranger, violin)

Land Rover ‘Glider’ commercial - Soundtree Music (violin, viola)

Guinness ‘World’ commercial - Soundtree Music (violin, viola)

Smirnoff ' Sea' commercial – Soundtree Music (violin, viola)

Royal Mail 'Grow' commercial – Soundtree Music (violin, viola)

Nokia 'Harmony' commercial – Soundtree Music (vocals)

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Specsavers Sheep Shearing Advert. Visit4ads.com. https://web.archive.org/web/20120415110526/http://www.visit4ads.com/advert/Specsavers-Sheep-Shearing-Specsavers-Opticians/55761. 15 April 2012.
  2. Web site: SpecSavers Collie for Sheep Shearing . The Inspiration Room . 25 January 2012 . https://web.archive.org/web/20120125090708/http://theinspirationroom.com/daily/2008/specsavers-for-sheep-shearing/ . dead .
  3. Web site: 系统发生错误. Tvspots.tv. 27 July 2020.
  4. Web site: Obi-Wan Kenobi (TV Mini Series 2022) Full Cast & Crew. IMDB.
  5. Web site: magazine interview with composer. M-magazine.co.uk.
  6. News: Metro review. Metro.co.uk.
  7. Web site: ShakiraMedia.com – News – Read our Interview with Shakira's Band Member – Una Palliser. Shakiramedia.com.
  8. Web site: She's a classical musician who trained at the Royal Academy of Music in London, but has since conquered the pop world. Una first picked up a violin at the age of four. As an adult performer she has toured the world with Gnarls Barkley, Take That and Arcade Fire. She plays in a classical string quartet and has branched out into folk, joining the Slovenian group, Terrafolk. – Sunday Independent (Dublin, Republic of Ireland) . https://web.archive.org/web/20121106113905/http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-203039707.html. dead. 6 November 2012. 6 November 2012.
  9. Web site: Ireland . European Union Youth Orchestra . 29 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110929023225/http://www.euyo.org.uk/ireland . dead .
  10. Web site: Mo Ghile Mear. Daithaic.blogspot.com. 27 July 2020.
  11. Web site: Una & The Balkan Bears...Pavilion Cork... – Peoples Republic Of Cork Discussion Forums. Peoplesrepublicofcork.com.
  12. unapalliser. Úna Palliser. 262897654340673536. 29 October 2012. With Dionne Warwick on Radio 2 yesterday quartet acting as full string section.
  13. unapalliser. Úna Palliser. 907514823621185537. 12 September 2017. Playing with @liamgallagher and @UrbanSoulOrch at @AIRStudios recently.
  14. Web site: Information from Mermaid Art Centre Playbill.
  15. Web site: Cork Independent Newspaper Article.. 27 July 2020.
  16. Web site: Una Palliser. IMDB.
  17. Web site: Still Resist The Storm Feat. In Association with The World Famous Fireworkers tour of the same name. Una Palliser by Terra Folk on Amazon Music . Amazon UK .
  18. Web site: Slovenian News Article on Terrafolk Tour..
  19. Web site: Terra Folk. Terrafolk.org.
  20. Web site: Una Palliser. discogs.
  21. Web site: Daily Record & Sunday Mail – Scottish News, Sport, Politics and Celeb gossip. Daily Record. Scotland.
  22. Web site: TAKE THAT – Beautiful World tour interview featuring Una Palliser. unapalliser. 5 March 2010. YouTube.
  23. Web site: Artist. artist. direct. ARTISTdirect.
  24. Web site: Promo photo with bio info.. 27 July 2020.
  25. Web site: Symphonica: The Orchestral Tour: Personnel. Dymphonicatour.blogspot.com. 27 July 2020.
  26. Web site: Amanda Palmer website.. 27 July 2020.
  27. Web site: Amanda Palmer ft Una Palliser @ HMV Picturehouse Edinburgh – Missed Me. MrMichaelchik. 29 August 2011. YouTube.
  28. Web site: Una Palliser on Instagram: "Last night @unionchapeluk : @amandapalmer and I interrupting @neilhimself for a kazoo/violin solo battle.... Playing with her always leaves…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BbmPJ-CBOMe . 26 December 2021 . registration. Instagram.com.
  29. https://twitter.com/unapalliser/status/197035850339598336
  30. Web site: Google Translate.
  31. Web site: A propos - Nipany.com. 27 July 2020.
  32. Web site: Una Palliser. Facebook.com.
  33. Web site: The Secret Life of Materials. 27 July 2020. IMDb.com.
  34. Web site: The Taming of The Shrew- Globe 2016. Peterviney.com. 18 May 2016. 27 July 2020.
  35. Web site: Coaoineadh Cait. 27 July 2020. Facebook.com.
  36. Web site: The Inn at Lydda . "Shakespeare's Globe" . 6 June 2017 . 1 June 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20170601145314/http://www.shakespearesglobe.com/theatre/whats-on/sam-wanamaker-playhouse/the-inn-at-lydda-2016 . dead .
  37. Web site: Una Palliser. En-gb.facebook.com.
  38. Web site: Una Palliser on Instagram: "I'm really happy to have my singing featured in Jez Butterworth's The Ferryman @theferrymanplay Royal Court Theatre, directed by Sam…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BTr0CR0hXf9 . 26 December 2021 . registration. Instagram.com. 27 July 2020.
  39. Web site: YouTube. YouTube.
  40. Web site: Una Palliser on Instagram: "Dressing room at #iffaawards #internationalindianfilmacademyawards #soloviolin #arrahman #musicianlife #tour #newyorkcity". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BWifjFMB_XN . 26 December 2021 . registration. Instagram.com.
  41. unapalliser. Úna Palliser. 912022073840750592. 24 September 2017. Looking forward to joining @arrahman as solo violinist on stadium tour of Australia +New Zealand over the next 2 we….
  42. unapalliser. Úna Palliser. 922071670214529026. 22 October 2017. Having a bit of an Irish moment with @arrahman Sir this weekend in Toronto #ARRahmanlive #violin….
  43. Web site: Una Palliser on Instagram: "Debut as solo vocalist at the beautiful @royalalberthall last night, not quite singing as myself but channeling the Arabic-esque vocals of…". https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/B4Gnw_5g8l0 . 26 December 2021 . registration. Instagram.com. 27 July 2020.
  44. Web site: London Season 6 Premiere, the Music!! - Outlander Behind the Scenes . Outlanderbts.com . 2022-02-25 . 2022-03-04.
  45. News: Midwinter’s Eve Friday 2 December, 7.30pm St John’s Smith Square . LCO . 28 April 2023.
  46. News: St Patrick’s Day with Úna Palliser and Searcys . 17 March 2023 . 28 April 2023.
  47. News: Together in Love and Separation . LCO . 28 November 2022 . 28 April 2023.
  48. Web site: "Best of Balanescu " . Clujlife.
  49. News: North Sea Scrolls, Cabaret Voltaire, EdinburghBeardyman, Assembly . https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220507/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/reviews/north-sea-scrolls-cabaret-voltaire-edinburghbeardyman-assembly-hall-edinburghamanda-fcking-palmer-2344956.html . 7 May 2022 . subscription . live . 28 August 2011 . The Independent.
  50. Web site: link to Songlines review . JPG . Terrafolk.org . 27 July 2020.
  51. Web site: Redwater review: Kat and Alfie thrown in at the deep end in gentle dark drama . Metro.co.uk . 18 May 2017 . 27 July 2020.
  52. Web site: ShakiraMedia.com – News – Pop Festival 2011: Shakira's violinist Una Palliser -Video-. Shakiramedia.com.
  53. Web site: Review of Shakira Concert in Costa Rica. 27 July 2020.
  54. Web site: "Don Oíche Du Im Beithil (feat. Úna Palliser) by Joglaresa". Amazon.
  55. News: Fiddling with friends at Baltimore fair. The Irish Independent.
  56. Web site: Fiddlefair.com. 27 July 2020.
  57. Web site: Una Palliser on Instagram: "My husband @chefjocky is finally on Instagram, posting delicious looking dishes in development. He was the first Head Development Chef of…" . https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/BTi6VRYhzYh . 26 December 2021 . registration. Instagram.com . 27 July 2020.
  58. Web site: James 'Jocky' Petrie on joining Gordon Ramsay Group . Bighospitality.co.uk . 27 July 2020.
  59. News: What's it like to live with a chef?. 19 May 2019 . . 27 July 2020.
  60. Web site: Conor Palliser announced as ISWO 2020 Conductor . Irish Symphonic Wind Orchestra . 2019-09-17 . 2022-03-04.
  61. Web site: WordTheatre at The Arts Club. 27 July 2020.
  62. Web site: Arts Trust Website. 27 July 2020.
  63. Web site: Maria de Buenos Aires. Lineupnow.com. 27 July 2020.
  64. News: Where no opera has gone before. 18 June 2012. Irish Examiner. 27 July 2020.
  65. Web site: Abba The Show. Theshow-as-tribute-to-abba.com.
  66. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mlxrmb2bmbY
  67. Web site: Graffiti Classics - The Graffiti Classics Live. Discogs.com. 27 July 2020.
  68. Web site: 系统发生错误. Tvspots.tv. 27 July 2020.
  69. Web site: Shazam. Shazam.com. 27 July 2020.
  70. unapalliser. Úna Palliser. 929146311710044160. 11 November 2017. Played violin + viola with some of my favourites @Elbow on my favourite Christmas advert. #johnlewis.
  71. Web site: Una Palliser. Facebook.com. 27 July 2020.
  72. Web site: Ghostpoet - Shedding Skin. Discogs.com. 27 July 2020.
  73. Web site: 2010 Baltimore Fiddle Fair – Artist Bios. Fiddlefair.com.
  74. http://www.jevafilms.com/completed.html
  75. Web site: By Hook . 7 September 2011 . 25 September 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110925042633/http://www.virginmediashorts.co.uk/film/2150/by-hook . dead .
  76. Web site: Every Good Boy Does Fine (2011). https://web.archive.org/web/20190226045948/http://www.bfi.org.uk/films-tv-people/4f4bb42c26b06. dead. 26 February 2019. Bfi.org.uk.