Elizabeth Studied at Birmingham Conservatoire, (1992-94) at this point, already specializing in the solo repertoire of the Renaissance lute. She graduated with a first class honours degree and gained a place on the Early Music post-graduate course at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In London she had the opportunity to study with Nigel North and developed her skills further as a continuo player and soloist on a variety of different lute-related instruments.

Since her student days, she has carved out a freelance career as a professional lute player for over 20 years. She has travelled the world, played in many of the major international music festivals, and has had the privilege to work with fabulous leading musicians.

‘… the lute solo was masterful and eloquently played.’

BBC Music Magazine 

Elizabeth has played with many well-known early music ensembles. Highlights include a world tour of the Jonathan Miller production of Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo with the New London Consort (NLC). L’Orfeo toured across the UK and Europe and included performances in far-flung cities such as Jerusalem, Beijing and Mexico City.

‘Elizabeth Pallett (lute) too must be mentioned: during the opening scene she stood next to Joanne Lunn (who sang La Musica beautifully) and played the accompaniment from memory as if it was the most natural and obvious thing to do. Singer and lute player standing next to each other made dramatic sense.’

Musical Criticism by Agnes Kery

Monteverdi’s L’Orfeo QEH London March 2007

Elizabeth has been one of the founder players of the broken consort group The Musicians of the Globe. (MoG) Within the group, Elizabeth plays a variety of instruments including the lute, baroque guitar and cittern. She has also become a leading specialist in the art of playing the bandora, an instrument of astonishing texture and vibrancy. The Musicians of the Globe have toured extensively around the world and have teamed up with some fantastic and diverse artists such as Richard Thompson (Fairport Convention) and Carlos Núñez. (The Chieftains) The Musicians of the Globe also collaborated with the Singapore Chinese Orchestra debuting a world premiere performance of ‘Awaking’ composed by Qu Xiao for the Singapore Arts Festival in 2009.

‘The (bandora) “red-headed stepchild of early music”, as Richard Thomson described it, this latter (a first encounter for me) is a cross between a lute and a guitar, played by Elizabeth Pallett, proved itself an earthy addition to the politer tones of the lute and viol.’

Cadogan Hall, London. Written by Alexandra Coghlan.

The Arts Desk 2010.

With a strong interest in early opera, Elizabeth has performed in many historical performances such as Il Pompeo Magno and Calisto by Cavalli. Ulysses, L’Incoronatione di Poppea and L’Orfeo by Monteverdi. San Giovanni Battista by Stradella. Dido and Aeneas and The Fairy Queen by Purcell (NLC) directed by Mauricio Garcìa Lozano to name a few.

Elizabeth worked as the principal lute player for the all-women company at the Shakespeare’s Globe in London for two seasons (2002-2003) under the artistic direction of Phyllida Lloyd. She also performed for ‘The Signing of the Virginia Charter’ written and directed by the Oscar winner and world renown actor, Mark Rylance.

Recordings include ‘Eliza is the Fayrest Quene’ and ‘In Venetia’ with the QuintEssential Sackbut and Cornett Ensemble. ‘Celebrating Shakespeare, the World’s Globe’ and ‘Such Sweet Sorrow’ with Shakespeare’s Globe Musicians and ‘The Masque of Oberon,’ Musicians of the Globe.

Elizabeth is currently working on a CD recording of solo lute repertoire, ‘From Italy to England: Two Great Masters.’ This collection of pieces will comprise of two of the most influential composers of the renaissance: John Dowland and Francesco Canova da Milano. Tracks will include Dowland’s, ‘Lachrimae Pavan’ and the beautiful, haunting, monthematic lines of Milano’s ‘La Compagna.’ The repertoire for this CD will be rooted in the Thistlewaithe and Folger ‘Dowland’ manuscripts, the Mathew Holmes Lute Book and other sources.

‘Excellent….a delight to listen to.’

Early Music Review.

Other ensembles Elizabeth has worked with over the years include the 18^th Century Concert Orchestra, English Cornett and Sackbut Ensemble, Florilegium, Gabrieli Consort and Players, Ex Cathedra, The Music Companye, Charivari Agreable and Musica Donum Dei.

The projects with which Elizabeth can be involved are varied. A televised performance and interview for the popular TV series ‘The Tudors’ is such an example. She has diversified into the world of new composition for theorbo and has played in many performances of Harvey Brough’s ‘Requiem in Blue’ featuring jazz artists such as Jacqui Dankworth, Liane Carroll and Gerard Presencer.

Elizabeth is a keen educationalist and is a visiting tutor at Birmingham Conservatoire. She works closely with the early music, vocal, and guitar departments. She provides regular master classes in continuo, transcription, and historical repertoire as well as one-to-one tuition. At the Conservatoire, Elizabeth participates in early opera projects, lute song workshops and coaches small chamber ensembles.

In 2001 Elizabeth was awarded a prestigious honorary membership (HonBC) from Birmingham Conservatoire in recognition of distinguished work within the field of music.

Elizabeth is now based in Great Malvern, UK. She lives with her husband and three beautiful children.

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