Olivia Forbes | A Stunning Night of Music and Opera

Presented by DEPOT & Chateaubriant, join us for A Stunning Night of Music and Opera with Olivia Forbes - joined by pianist Claire Caldwell.

DEPOT and French-Kiwi fusion Café Chateaubriant have partnered to bring you a sublime evening of opera and music. 

Award-winning opera singer Olivia Forbes will be accompanied on piano by Claire Caldwell. They will be performing a selection of stunning arias, Lieder, art song and musical theatre favourites including works by Mozart, Puccini, Strauss, Debussy and Andrew Lloyd Webber. This diverse program promises an unforgettable evening of music.

Included with your ticket are delicious canapés by Chateaubriant and wine by Toi Toi wines. Non-alcoholic drinks will also be served.

Please join us for an evening to remember, book your tickets now!

Event Details:

Saturday 12 April, 6:30pm

DEPOT Artspace:
28 Clarence Street, Devonport

Tickets: $85 - Drink & canapés included

Performance Schedule:
6:30pm - Doors open - Welcoming drinks and canapés
7:00pm - First act
7:30pm - Break, drinks & canapés
8:00pm - Second act
8:30pm - End

About Olivia Forbes

Olivia Forbes is a 23-year-old soprano from Auckland. Having completed her undergraduate conjoint in Voice and Italian from Auckland University, she has recently completed her honours degree in Classical Voice with first class under the tutelage of Dr. Morag Atchison. In 2019, she played the role of Flora in New Zealand Opera’s production of The Turn of the Screw by Benjamin Britten and has been a student at the New Zealand Opera School in Whanganui where she was awarded the 2025 Dame Sister Mary Leo award for dedication to the craft of Opera. 

Recently, Olivia placed third in the Beacroft Aria Finals and was a finalist in the 2024 New Zealand Aria competition where she performed as a soloist with the Auckland Philharmonic Orchestra. At the 2025 Nicholas Tarling aria finals she was awarded the inaugural Sally Stone award for most outstanding talent. She is passionate about sharing the beauty of classical music with audiences and looks forward to expanding her horizons internationally later this year as she embarks to London to pursue a Master of Performance at the Royal College of Music.

About Claire Caldwell

Claire Caldwell was for many years the Performing Arts Manager and Director of Choral Music at Dilworth School where she curated the next generation of musical talent. She is now expanding that kaupapa in a newly created role as director of Musicatalyst, a studio and coaching program established to allow access to the highest level of performance and learning environments. She has been privileged to work with the country’s finest operatic talent both in the rehearsal room and on the concert platform through her work at the University of Auckland, Dame Kiri te Kanawa Foundation, Auckland Opera Studio, New Zealand Aria Competition and New Zealand Opera.

Her students have made their mark on international stages and include: twice winning the Lexus Songquest being selected for prestigious Young Artists programs in London and New York, and recently making their operatic debuts at the Royal Opera House in London. The Metropolitan Opera House, Opera and Paris Opera amongst others. In the Music Theatre realm in productions all around the world, notably in Miss Saigon and Hamilton.