The days when heavy luxury was fashionable have passed. The exclusivity of musical events today lies not only in the exquisite cuisine and top locations but also in an atmosphere where headliners become part of the overall company, and guests can truly relax. Yury M., founder of Wondermaker Inc., and Julia Karpova, the company’s official partner in Italy and the EU, see their mission as giving people genuine, sincere emotions.
Julia Karpova: Our story began more than ten years ago when a mutual acquaintance introduced Yury and me as part of a project for the Chivas brand. Yury was involved with clubs in St. Petersburg, and I was heading an advertising agency in Moscow. We adapted the concept of a Scottish lord gathering friends in a castle to Russian realities. In the regions, the lords were local authoritative personalities. The result was excellent networking and native advertising for the brand. Following these events, we even released a book, Chivas Art of Hosting. When everything changed in February 2022, I decided to stay in Italy and started thinking about how to apply my event experience here. Yury very timely called with the idea of organising concerts of Russian-speaking and international stars in Italy, starting with the canonical Forte dei Marmi. In August 2023, we organised the debut exclusive concert of the Russian rock band Bi-2 in Forte dei Marmi at the Alpebella villa of Andrea Bocelli. The event was a great success, which convinced us to continue working in Italy. Yury M.: For me, the most important thing at our concerts is the atmosphere. This vibe of unbridled fun or a warm house party at an old friend’s villa, when the VIP zone and the dance floor merge, I want to bring to all our events. Here, regulars of the society pages and just those who have long dreamed of going to a concert of their favourite performer relax their souls. This crowd is like a single organism — everyone forgets about status, problems, and lets loose to the fullest, simultaneously tearing off masks and expensive shoes and dancing barefoot on the sand. Julia: The main rule in our work and in life is to try, take risks, live life to the fullest, and not be afraid of mistakes. It is better to regret what you did than what you did not do. And those who do not take risks do not drink champagne at parties in Forte dei Marmi.