“The Canadian’s hands literally jumped with percussiveness one moment, moved blurry fast the next, and, as a further contrast, gracefully and sensuously stroked the Steinway’s keyboard throughout the lyrical sequences”

“Ian Parker, a technically assured and enthusiastic young Canadian pianist, was the soloist in Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue…[he] offered a well-thought-out approach projected with extraordinarily cleanly etched textures.”

“[Parker] brought out the sweeping romanticism of the [Schumann] concerto’s first movement…His approach was immediately arresting.”

“It was a show-stopping performance from Parker and the LPO…”

“…[Rachmaninoff’s] masterwork still holds power. Especially in the hands of Parker and the ESO…[Ian Parker’s] playing was precise and passionate, each note crystalline and clear.”

“…Parker sailed through the [Gershwin Piano Concerto in F] as if he had written it. [He] exhibited a strong affinity for jazz idioms and excelled in Gershwin’s fast, light, syncopated passages. Particularly beautiful were his cadenzas and his interplay with the orchestra…”

“…Putting aside the usual blood and thunder approach to this big work, Parker took a more lyrical and musical way. All the notes were there, but it was the scrupulous quality of his playing that was notable. Especially memorable was the gossamer lightness of the second movement…”