On Saturday 2 May 2009 the magnificent heritage-listed Regent Plaza Ballroom situated beneath the Regent Theatre in the heart of Melbournes Collins Street will be transformed into the luxurious setting for Luminaire, Opera Australia's biggest fundraising event of the year in Melbourne.

To start the evening, Bollinger invites guests to join them at the Makers Mark Diamond and Pearl Bar. There will be just 180 glasses of Bollinger champagne on sale there, each with its own individual number attached to the stem of the glass. Every guest that purchases a glass will go in the draw to win a beautiful piece of jewellery from Melbourne jewelers Makers Mark. An elegant dinner follows.

300 guests will be treated to a sumptuous dinner matched with premium wines at this exclusive event. The event will feature special guests from Opera Australias production of A Little Night Music, including Nancye Hayes, Robert Grubb and Matthew Robinson, as well as performances by Opera Australia star, Antoinette Halloran, with renowned actor and impersonator Gerry Connolly as master of ceremonies.

Then, of course, there is a live and silent auction. Opera Australia's auctions are famous for their range of unique items and this year is no exception including holiday adventures, luxury products and operatic money-cant-buy experiences. The live auction, conducted by Martin Gallon of Martin Gallon International Art, will see vigorous bidding for priceless lots including:
-The chance to own a hand-painted Kimono costume from Madama Butterfly
-A private viewing of A Street Car Named Desire rehearsal at the Arts Centre followed by dinner with the director, Bruce Beresford and his wife
-Passage for two on Renaissance Tours Cruise, A Festival of Opera and Music, visiting Eden, Freycinet, Port Arthur and Hobart
-Dinner with composer Brett Dean, and tickets to the opening night of his new Australian opera Bliss in 2010
-5 Nights in any Small Luxury Hotel of the world in England, with business class return flights
-Backstage viewing of The Mikado at the Sydney Opera House, accommodation at Sir Stamford at Circular Quay and business class return flights from Qantas
-A private dinner for ten people at The Victoria Room in Sydney including return Qantas flights
-The chance to fly a Top Gun fighter jet in Tasmania

The silent auction is also a treasure trove of tantalising items including a luxury New Zealand Holiday; a range of getaways, spa treatments and cosmetics; designer clothes; theatre, opera and concert tickets and the chance to fly a Vintage Tiger Moth over Port Phillip Bay.

The evening concludes with dancing to the Big Band, the MoovinnGroovin Orchestra. By the end of this glamorous event, Opera Australia hopes to have raised over $100,000 towards its work. This year's featured project is The Opera Australia Moffatt Oxenbould Young Artist Program, which help nuture the creative development of young artists through unique training and employment opportunities.