Based in London since 1993, Ian Pace has pursued an active international career as a pianist, performing throughout Britain, Europe and the US. His vast repertoire of all periods focuses particularly upon music of the 20th and 21st centuries, including a wide range of works by contemporary British, French, German, Italian and other composers (giving world premières of over 100 works) as well as the ‘classics’ of modern music by composers such as Boulez, Stockhausen, Barraque, Xenakis, Ligeti, Nono, Kagel and Cage. He has presented cycles of works including Stockhausen’s Klavierstücke I-X, and the piano works of Ferneyhough, Fox, Kagel, Ligeti, Lachenmann, Messiaen, Radulescu, Rihm and Skempton. In addition to his activities as a soloist, Ian is the Artistic Director of the ensemble Topologies and regularly plays with other soloists and groups, most notably the Arditti Quartet. Many of his recitals and recordings have been broadcast, by British, French, Belgian, Dutch, German, Swiss, Austrian, Italian, Polish and Australian Radio. He has recorded numerous CDs on the Metier, Mode, Hat Art, NMC, Black Box, Albedo, Stradivarius and Naive labels, which have been received with great critical acclaim.
Ian is also a prolific writer on music and musical issues, having published articles in many journals and various book chapters, specializing in 19th century performance practice, issues of music and society (with particular reference to Adorno), music and identity, contemporary performance practice and issues, music and culture under fascism, and the post-1945 avant-garde, especially that in West Germany. He is Head of Performance Studies at City University, London, and regularly gives guest lectures, masterclasses and workshops.