Violin maestro M.S. Gopalakrishnan dies at 82

Legendary violinist M.S. Gopalakrishnan, known for his sound knowledge of both, Carnatic and Hindustani music, passed away here around 2.00 am on Thursday. He was admitted to a city hospital following complaints of breathlessness on Wednesday evening. He was 82.

Hailing from the revered Parur lineage, MSG - as he was fondly referred to in music circles - had a remarkable career as an accompanist in his younger days. He later became one of the most important names in solo violin recitals - along with his contemporaries Lalgudi G. Jayaraman and T.N. Krishnan.

A recipient of several honours including the Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri and the Sangita Kalanidhi title awarded by The Music Academy, MSG was a classic example of an artiste who was always open to new ideas and influences. His style can be seen as a seamless blend of the classical and Hindustani idioms. His musical contributions spanned over 75 years.

He is survived by his wife Meenakshi, daughter, violinist and prime disciple M. Narmadha, violinist-son Suresh and daughter Latha.