What’s On at Soneva Fushi

The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre, one of Moscow’s leading cultural institutions, is renowned for its world-class ballet and opera productions that blend Russian classical traditions with innovative contemporary works. For the first time, the theatre’s most celebrated dancers Evgenii Zhukov, Ksenia Shevtsova, Polina Zayarnaya and Elena Solomyanko will be performing at Soneva Fushi in January. Evgenii, a leading soloist since 2018, has earned acclaim for his versatile performances in classical roles like The Nutcracker’s Prince and Albert in Giselle and his works across acclaimed contemporary projects. Ksenia, the theatre’s prima ballerina since 2019, has starred in major roles including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, also making her mark as a guest artist with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in 2024. Polina, a first soloist since 2020, is known for her dynamic interpretations in both classical ballets such as Don Quixote and modern works by Jiří Kylián and Akram Khan. Elena, a leading soloist, has captivated audiences with her performances in Swan Lake and The Nutcracker while excelling in modern pieces like Wings of Wax and Suite in White. Guests at Soneva Fushi can experience the magic of ballet with spectacular performances and specialised workshops by Evgenii Zhukov, Ksenia Shevtsova, Polina Zayarnaya and Elena Solomyanko.

Since 2015, German chef Marcel Skibba has been a key figure in Andreas Caminada’s gastronomic ventures, particularly at Schloss Schauenstein, where he has built a reputation for mastering both classic cuisine and modern techniques. From its opening in 2016 until the 2020/2021 winter season, Skibba led the kitchen at IGNIV St. Moritz, excelling as head chef. Under his leadership, the restaurant earned 17 Gault Millau points and a second Michelin star. Before joining Caminada’s team, Skibba honed his skills at the three-star level, notably working with Thomas Bühner at La Vie in Osnabrück, among other renowned establishments.

Michael Ballack is an iconic figure in German football, widely regarded for his exceptional skill and leadership on the field. Ballack’s football journey began at a young age and saw him rise to become one of the most accomplished midfielders of his generation where he was known for his incredible vision, precise passing and powerful shots. Over the course of his career, he played for top European clubs such as Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Chelsea and Kaiserslautern. Additionally, Ballack was a pivotal player for the German national team, representing his country in multiple FIFA World Cups and UEFA European Championships Since retiring, Ballack has stayed connected to the sport, sharing his expertise as a pundit, commentator and ambassador. This festive season in the Maldives, guests will have the rare opportunity to train under his guidance, learning valuable skills during an exclusive football camp.

Kevin Diedrich is a prominent figure in the cocktail world, renowned for his exceptional work at Pacific Cocktail Haven (P.C.H.) in San Francisco, California. As the driving force behind this acclaimed bar, Kevin has established P.C.H. as a top destination for cocktail enthusiasts, earning a spot at #38 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list. The bar’s inventive approach to mixology and its commitment to excellence has also garnered the Best American Cocktail Bar award at the Tales of the Cocktail Awards. Kevin’s influence extends well beyond his role at P.C.H., earning him multiple nominations for Best American Bartender, with a win in 2020. Recognised for his mentorship, he was named one of the best U.S. Bar Mentors by the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation in 2022, reflecting his commitment to nurturing the next generation of bartenders.

Peter Crouch is an English former professional footballer renowned for his distinguished career spanning over two decades. He began his professional journey with Tottenham Hotspur in 1998 before embarking on successful stints with Liverpool, Portsmouth and Stoke City. Throughout his career, Peter participated in prestigious tournaments including the FIFA World Cup and the UEFA European Championship, where he scored 22 goals for his country.  He is one of just 33 players to have scored 100 or more Premier League goals and holds the record for the most headed goals in Premier League history. Following his retirement from professional football in 2019, Peter seamlessly transitioned into a prominent media personality, garnering acclaim as a television pundit and presenter. His legacy transcends the boundaries of sport, as he continues to captivate admirers with his insights and charisma, making him a key figure in football history and popular culture alike.

Italian chef and restaurateur Paolo Casanova is the patron of Chesa Stüva Colani Restaurant in Madulain, Switzerland. Casanova grew up immersed in the world of food and hospitality, with a family background in hotel ownership and culinary arts and has worked with renowned Italian chefs, including Massimo Bottura, Stefano Baiocco. and Fulvio Pierangelini. In 2016, Casanova opened his own restaurant in Switzerland and by 2020, he earned his first Michelin star and was named Discovery of the Year by Gault&Millau. In 2024, he was honoured as Green Chef of the Year recognising for his creative approach to his menus, emphasising the use of premium, fresh and local ingredients. He forages for ingredients and maintains his own vegetable garden, fostering close relationships with local farmers and producers to ensure the highest quality in his culinary creations.

Søren Ørbek Ledet is the wine director, general manager and co-owner of the Michelin-starred Geranium in Copenhagen, Denmark. For Søren, a former chef turned sommelier and front-of-house manager, the transition from the kitchen to the cellar and restaurant was a natural progression, driven by his desire to offer guests a complete experience. His meticulous wine pairings involve extensive theory, tasting notes and a deep understanding of the flavour profiles of wine and dishes. Managing Geranium’s 25,000-bottle wine cellar requires constant evolution. Søren likens discovering a new domain, chateau or vintage to opening a present as a child – a moment of discovery and enlightenment. The Geranium Wine Cellar features biodynamic wines, classic vintages and unexpected surprises, showcasing his dedication to providing an extraordinary dining experience.

Dr Armin Kleinböhl is a planetary scientist at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California. He is also the Deputy Principal Investigator of the Mars Climate Sounder instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which has been operating on Mars for over 16 years and established the longest time series of global atmospheric measurements on Mars to date. Since 2008, he has provided landing support for all landings on Mars conducted by NASA and his scientific work focusing on the structure and dynamics of the atmospheres of Mars and Venus led him to author or co-authored more than 100 scientific publications. Dr Armin is also the Participating Scientist in Residence for the Japanese Akatsuki Venus Climate Orbiter mission, which leads him to spend several months of the year in Japan. His work also includes managing the “Cloudspotting on Mars” citizen science project with more than 8,000 registered volunteers, which allows members of the public to contribute to planetary science by analysing real data from a spacecraft in Mars’ orbit. During his visit, Dr Armin will be hosting after-dinner stargazing sessions with a focus on Mars and Venus, which will be prominent in the evening sky and will share stories about planetary science and exploration.

Born in 1986 in the Czech Republic, Petr studied astrophysics at Masaryk University Brno and at Silesian University in Opava, Czech Republic. He is an astronomer and astrophotographer. His images were featured more than 30 times by NASA as Astronomy Picture of the Day, as astrophotographer and science outreach worker he cooperates with NOIRLab, National Geographics’ TWAN (The World At Night), European Southern Observatory, and many more. An asteroid 6822 orbiting between Mars and Jupiter is named after him. He travels the world to capture and show the immersive beauty of the starry sky and unique or rare sky phenomena. A long route brought him also to Soneva Fushi in 2019, where he experienced a beautiful night sky and took many photographs of it. Petr specializes in the outreach of modern astronomy with his talks to the public and in photographing the night sky phenomena to show what amazing Universe around us can be even seen by naked eyes all around the world, including the Maldives.

For the past 10 years, chefs Adam Dahlberg and Albin Wessman have operated one of Stockholm’s most hyped Michelin-starred restaurants, Adam/Albin, offering a gastronomic dinner experience far from the traditional fine dining restaurant. Their restaurant group also includes Misshumasshu, Nori Bar, Ramen and a soon-to-be-open brasserie in the meat packing area of Stockholm. With their heritage rooted in Nordic cuisine and a passion for outstanding produce, the pair are on a mission to redefine luxury in the age of sustainability. While at Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani, they will be combining their signature dishes with the locally grown greens from our organic gardens to create something truly unique.

Ajay Chopra is an Indian chef, food creator, restaurant consultant and media personality. A pioneer in progressive cuisine, he was one of the first Indian chefs to host Masterchef India and helped change the way people perceive cooking as a profession. Born into a Punjabi family from Lucknow, he spent his childhood in multiple cities in North India. Inspired by his work experience in hotels across the country, he started his own company, Zion Hospitality, a food and beverage consulting company which caters to food and beverage units including hotels, Restaurants, QSR and casual cafe concepts. In 2018, he launched his YouTube channel, The Big Daddy Chef, which shares a collection of easy-to-follow recipes inspired by authentic Indian dishes designed to encourage families to cook and have fun in the kitchen together. His distinctive cooking style uses simple ingredients and techniques to create flavourful dishes, placing him on the list of best chefs in India.

Graeme Le Saux is a former England international footballer who played most of his career as a left-back, though his football pace and skill enabled him to move into a left-sided midfield role when required. Graeme made his England debut in a 1994 friendly against Denmark and went on to represent his country 36 times. The highlight of his England career was representing his country in the 1998 football World Cup. Graeme started his career at St Paul’s and moved to Chelsea football club in 1987. In 1993 he switched to Blackburn Rovers where he won the 1995 Premier League title with Blackburn. In August 1997 Graeme became the most expensive defender in English football when he returned to Chelsea football club in a GBP 5 million deal. Graeme remained there for six seasons before moving to Southampton football club. Graeme played at St. Mary’s for two seasons announcing his retirement in May 2005 following Southampton’s relegation. Since retiring from football, Graeme is popular with the media working across national and international outlets including NBC, Sky and the BBC. A respected and clear-thinking individual, he frequently undertakes project work with the FA, UEFA, FIFA and the Premier League.