Inspired by William Ernest Henley’s (1849–1903) iconic poem of the same name, Stacy Garrop’s new piano concerto INVICTUS was commissioned by and written for Chicago native and multi-Grammy-nominated pianist Marta Aznavoorian, who performs it with the Chicago Philharmonic under Artistic Director Scott Speck. Despite a difficult life beleaguered with health issues, William Ernest Henley’s poem Invictus, Latin for “unconquered,” is a motivational piece that encourages strength in the face of adversity. Famous figures such as imprisoned anti-apartheid leader Nelson Mandela, labor activist Eugene V. Debs, and Prince Harry, who founded the 2014 “Invictus Games” to help wounded service members, have recited and paid homage to this poem as a source of inspiration. The world-premiere recording of INVICTUS is a souvenir from last fall’s Ear Taxi Festival, a citywide celebration of contemporary music. In their review for the world-premiere performance, Chicago Classical Review praised Garrop for her “accessible, exciting, shrewdly crafted music” while hailing Aznavoorian for “[having risen] to the rigors of the big-boned solo part like the consummate virtuoso she is.” The release also includes the world-premiere recording of Garrop’s bright solo piano piece, Joie de vivre.