The elegantly-dressed guests arrived by water taxi across the stunning moonlit Sydney Harbour.

The butlers took their coats, and bottles of champagne popped and bubbled in the background. Smartly-dressed waiters hovered politely serving drinks and canapis, and the evening was off to a fine start.

It reads like a scene from a James Bond film, but for two lecturers from the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music (CQCM), this was how they spent last Saturday night.

Mark Gasser, a CQCM lecturer and internationally-acclaimed piano virtuoso, was invited to play a newly-commissioned Stuart Piano for a couple residing on Watson’s Bay; one of Sydney’s most prestigious addresses.

Kim Kirkman, a CQCM lecturer, composer, musical director and performer in his own right, was also along for the evening to perform some well-known arias alongside his colleague.

This extravagant house party for 25 guests had a distinctly Italian theme. Mark performed solos by composers Ravel, Chopin and Bach-Busoni and Kim (the founder and member of the Ten Tenors), performed some favourite arias from Puccini and Verdi, with a Neapolitan flavour.

“It was really a lot of fun,” said Mark. “The house was amazing, the third-oldest building on Watson’s Bay, and playing a Stuart Piano is always a pleasure”.

The Sydney hosts had heard Mark play during a recital last year at Government House; part of his Australian tour. They had already commissioned a Stuart Piano; so when Wayne Stuart introduced them to Mark, he agreed to play for them.

Throughout the evening the dinner guests dined on fine cuisine and were treated to some splendid entertainment . . . then, in the early hours of Sunday morning, they boarded their water taxis and made their way across a moonlit Sydney Harbour once more.

Oh ... what a life.

Photo above: The CQCM's Stuart Piano is among Mark Gasser's favourites.

Photo left: Mark Gasser.