Marta Aznavoorian To Perform World Premiere Of Stacy Garrop's 'Invictus' Piano Concerto

Grammy-nominated pianist Marta Aznavoorian, international concert and recording artist, will be the soloist in the world premiere of composer Stacy Garrop's "Invictus" piano concerto with the Chicago Philharmonic, conducted by Scott Speck, on October 18, 2025, at Chicago's Harris Theater for Music and Dance in Millennium Park.

The event is part of Chicago's fall 2025 Ear Taxi Festival of contemporary music. "Invictus," Garrop's first piano concerto, was commissioned by and written for Aznavoorian. The Armenian American pianist commissioned "Invictus" in the wake of a profoundly difficult period in her personal life.

"I wanted to commission a work that would inspire others to persevere and overcome daunting challenges," Aznavoorian says. "In this concerto, the piano soloist becomes the protagonist who ultimately triumphs over adversity."

Aznavoorian, who studied philosophy as well as music as an undergraduate, initially considered the Greek myth of Sisyphus as a model. Keeping this theme in mind, and after several discussions, composer Garrop, a fellow Chicagoan, suggested a different source: "Invictus," the late 19th-century poem by William Ernest Henley. "Invictus" is Latin for "unconquerable" or "undefeated."

Henley, who lost a leg to bone disease and endured further surgeries to save the other, wrote "Invictus" as a declaration of strength and perseverance. Its opening four lines form the structure of Garrop's concerto, with movements titled "Out of the night that covers me," "Black as the pit from pole to pole", "I thank whatever gods may be," and "For my unconquerable soul."

For Aznavoorian, the work vividly reflects her own journey of resilience. "Performing or listening to music can be a cathartic experience," she says. "I hope my performance offers a moment of inspiration - even for just one person in the audience."

She adds that the concerto also captures Garrop's deep understanding of her physical style at the keyboard, channeling both power and intensity into the music.

With its message of perseverance and triumph, "Invictus" stands as both a personal statement and a universal call to courage, one that Aznavoorian says she is eager to share with audiences.

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