This Valentine’s Eve, step into a world of sonic enchantment at the Athenaeum for Imaginary Lovers, a special concert event presented as part of Eighth Blackbird’s Artist-in-Residence.

In this groundbreaking collaboration, Shara Nova, the visionary founder of My Brightest Diamond and Broadway star (notably in “Illinoise”), joins forces with the Grammy Award-winning ensemble Eighth Blackbird to premiere a new work that blends Nova’s signature pop-chamber style with the group’s genre-bending, virtuosic musicianship.

Drawing inspiration from the idea of love, longing, and the dreamlike spaces between, Imaginary Lovers promises to transport you into a world where classical intricacy meets indie-pop flair. Nova’s hauntingly beautiful vocals and lush, emotive compositions are paired with Eighth Blackbird’s bold, eclectic instrumentation in a work that blurs the lines between the intimate and the expansive, the modern and the timeless.

This one-of-a-kind performance is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to witness a truly unique musical collaboration between two of today’s most innovative forces in contemporary music. Plus, an exciting opener from Chicago’s own saxophone quartet, ~Nois! (That’s US!!)

Join us for an evening that promises to stir the heart and the mind—an unforgettable pre-Valentine’s Day celebration of sound, love, and imagination.