Experts from the European Synchrotron Radiation Center in Grenoble (France) will study the favorite instrument of Italian virtuoso and composer Niccolo Paganini. The musician called the violin Il Cannone (“ball” in Russian) for its rich and powerful sound.

The legendary instrument, whose value is estimated to be in the millions, was made by violin master Giuseppe Bartolomeo Guarneri del Gesu in 1743. It is thought that this violin was given to Paganini in 1802 and gradually became his favorite. The Maestro played this game until the end of his life, and after his death, he bequeathed his favorite work to his hometown, Genoa.

The “Top” violin, considered a national treasure, has been stored in the Paganini Museum in the Doria-Tursi Palace for almost two centuries. The valuable instrument leaves it only occasionally and under increased security, to be included in some exhibitions or to be played by the winners of the Paganini International Violin Competition in Genoa.

Experts plan to evaluate the violin’s condition by installing it in the laboratory of the European Synchrotron Radiation Center, the highest energy center in Europe. X-ray microtomography will provide a detailed analysis down to the cellular structure of the wood and reveal possible damage given the approximately 300-year age of the tool.

The review can also reveal the secret of the unique sound of “Balls”. In addition, scientists plan to create a three-dimensional model of the violin with the smallest details. It is expected to take several months to review the images.

Paul Tafforeau (Paul Tafforeau), one of the experts at the European Synchrotron Radiation Center involved in the project, compared working on Paganini’s violin to a dream.

“This is an outstanding instrument in terms of sound quality. And now, thanks to the data obtained, we hope to understand why,” he said in an interview with AFP.

According to the curators of the project, transporting the famous violin from Genoa to Grenoble became a difficult logistical task, as they had no previous experience in transporting museum valuables. During the voyage, the instrument was insured for 30 million euros. Researchers promised that the main principle during restoration work with the violin will be extreme caution and moderation.