Kaia String Quartet + Fareed Haque = A Valentine’s Week Concert Filled with Passion and Art

On Valentine’s week, we’re turning up the romance with a concert that feels like a love letter in sound. The Kaia String Quartet joins forces with guitar virtuoso Fareed Haque for an unforgettable evening of passion, precision, and pure joy.

A Musical Journey of Love and Fire

At the heart of the program lies Haque’s own Quintet for Guitar and Strings, Op. 60. This expressive work blends lyricism with fiery intensity, capturing the spirit of love in every note. From there, the journey continues with music by Latin American icons Ricardo Lorenz and Astor Piazzolla, whose tangos are both smoldering and tender. Each melody tells a story of desire, rhythm, and emotion.

Adding a touch of lightness, Eduardo Angulo’s El Alevín (The Minnow) sparkles with playful energy—proof that even the smallest moments can hold deep feeling. Together, these pieces create a concert that’s intimate, uplifting, and alive with heart.

Visual Art by Margie Criner

Complementing the music is the evening’s visual artist, Chicago-based sculptor Margie Criner. At first glance, her sculptures appear modern, sleek and abstract. Yet, as you move closer, each piece reveals a lens portal – a tiny window into a hidden miniature world within. These micro-universes explore universal human moments: waiting, traveling, commuting, and dreaming. Through her art, Criner bridges design, play, and discovery, inviting viewers to slow down, look closer, and uncover stories hidden in plain sight.

An Evening to Remember

Together, Haque, the Kaia String Quartet, and Margie Criner create a multisensory experience that celebrates love, creativity, and connection. This Valentine’s concert promises to stir the soul and spark the imagination. It’s an inspiring night of art and music you won’t want to miss.

Music that speaks in thousands of notes. Art that asks you to look twice and see more. It’s the kind of Valentine you’ll remember long after the last chord fades. 💖

About Rendezvous Arts

Rendezvous Arts is a Chicago-area arts organization dedicated to connecting people through live music and visual art. Guided by a passionate Board of Directors and creative staff, we work to build community, nurture emerging artists, and inspire artistic excellence across the region.

Our mission is simple: to make the arts accessible to everyone. Through concerts, exhibitions, and collaborative events, we bring the joy of performance and creativity to audiences throughout Chicagoland.

At Rendezvous Arts, we celebrate diversity, inclusion, and equal opportunity. We do not – and will not – discriminate based on race, color, religion, gender identity, age, national origin, disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status.

Together, we’re redefining what an arts organization can be—one that celebrates connection, creativity, and community through every note and brushstroke.