That Old Red Shawl: a musical response to Mother Island

Curated in response to our Mother Island exhibition, join soprano Sara Macliver and pianist Liam Wooding for a performance exploring love, motherhood, and the memories we carry through music. Featuring songs by Charles Ives and a selection of Baroque favourites, the heart of the performance lies in Robert Schumann’s sublime song cycle, Frauenliebe und Leben, which traces a woman’s experience of love, marriage, motherhood, and loss. Gently echoing the exhibition’s themes of memory, care, and belonging, the program opens a dialogue between music across time and the artworks. TICKETS $45 ticket price includes drinks and canapes TIMES Doors open 6:15pm with pre-concert refreshments Performance begins 7pm PROGRAM FRESCOBALDI Se l’aura spira tutta vezzosa STROZZI Che si può fare? HANDEL Tra speme e timore from Alcina Piangerò la sorte mia from Giulio Cesare SCHUMANN Frauenliebe und Leben, Op. 42 Seit ich ihn gesehen Er, der Herrlichste von allen Ich kann’s nicht fassen, nicht glauben Du Ring an meinem Finger IHelft mir, ihr Schwestern ISüsser Freund, du blickest IAn meinem Herzen, an meiner Brust INun hast du mir den ersten Schmerz getan IVES Songs My Mother Taught Me The Things Our Fathers Loved Memories (“Very Pleasant” and “Rather Sad”) Mother Island runs until 5 December 2026, Tuesday – Saturday, 11am-4pm. Entry is always free. Mother Island brings together three distinct artistic practices which share a deep engagement with storytelling through material. Across sculpture, installation and textile works, the artists examine the bonds that connect us to people, places and histories, while reflecting on the ways culture, memory and care are passed between generations. The exhibition proposes the idea of the "mother island" as a site of origin, belonging and protection, but also a space from which we must sometimes depart in order to define our own identities. ______________________________ We acknowledge we are situated on Noongar land. We pay our respects to the traditional owners of the lands on which we live and work across Western Australia and Australia. ______________________________ View all related events to the exhibitions at uwa.edu.au/lwag/Events ______________________________ Image credit: soprano Sara Macliver and pianist Liam Wooding