Sir Eugene Goossens was a man who liked a little magic in his life. Sex magic, to be specific.

Goossens was a world-famous conductor and composer, a friend of Picasso and Stravinsky. "My heart just loosens when I listen to Goossens," wrote his pal Noël Coward. In 1947, aged 54 and at the height of his career, he was lured to Australia to take charge of the newly formed Sydney Symphony Orchestra.

The portly maestro was an instant hit, drawing audiences of 20,000 to free outdoor concerts, introducing Stravinsky to Sydney, mounting a production of his own opera...