The prominent Russian violinist lost his precious music instrument in Switzerland on December 8.

      The violin by the famous Giovanni Battista Guadagnini was stolen on the train from Geneva to Sion. At one of the stops, when passengers were getting in and out of the compartment, Pavel Vernikov turned away  for a couple of seconds and that was enough for the violin to vanish. The violinist immediately reported to the police.

      Pavel Vernikov said that this music instrument was just like his own dear child for him. He cannot imagine his future career without it. The theft made him cancel all of his scheduled concerts. The musician is sure that burglars do not even realize the true value of his violin.

      The stolen instrument was made in 1747 by Giovanni Battista Guadagnini, a well-known disciple of Antonio Stradivari. Pavel Vernikov received this violin from the Pro Canale Fund of Rare Music Instruments.