Violin maestro Ivaturi Vijayeswara Rao passed away at his residence here on Saturday morning. He was 76 and is survived by his wife. Vijayeswara Rao was an eminent artiste, performed various techniques and revived the traditional concept of Shatkalam singing. While qualities like this explained his mastery the maestro had the credit of training disciples like vocalists Manda Sudha Rani, Pantula Rama, Bhallmudi Sarda, Jayanthi Rama and Kalaimamani A. Kanyakumari of Chennai who all became noted musicians, when the city was not having much of music culture.
Son of Akkiraju, Vijayeswara Rao took up the family responsibilities when he was 17 due to his father’s premature death. His guru was the famous Dwaram Narasinga Rao Naidu and Vijayeswara Rao would always recall the help his guru had given him. In spite of being visually handicapped he would give tuitions at the disciples’ houses. He joined the AIR and worked as staff artiste at Calicut and Visakhapatnam radio stations.
He took voluntary retirement in 1992 and was training youngsters and giving performances. He had the reputation of being a well honoured solo artist.
