A murder probe has been launched after world-renowned concert pianist Natalia Strelchenko was found dead at her home. Police and first responders discovered the piano virtuoso was brutally bludgeoned and suffered serious head injuries at the her residence in Newton Heath, Manchester early Sunday morning.
The Telegraph reports that after receiving reports that a woman had been assaulted, police and paramedics were dispatched to Natalia’s home at about 12.45a.m.
However, despite efforts to revive her at the crime scene, 38-year-old Natalia Strelchenko died.
A postmortem examination reveals that Natalia died as a result of multiple neck and head injuries.
A 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and is currently in police custody.
Natalia Strelchenko also went by the name Natalia Strelle. Natalia Strelchenko was born in Russia and was the mother of young children.
She is recognized around the world as a piano virtuoso. She performed her first concert with the St. Petersburg Symphony Orchestra when she was only 12.
Natalia’s website describes her as a “Norwegian pianist of Russian origin and considered to be one of the country’s most renowned solo pianists of international calibre.”
She first studied at the St. Petersburg State Conservatory before moving to Oslo. She then studied at the Norwegian State Academy of Music for three years from 2007 to 2010 and received a PhD in arts research.
An artistic director at the Menestrelles International Chamber Musical Academy in Paris, Natalia was due to play at several concerts across Europe later this year.
Natalia Strelchenko had already performed at venues including the Wigmore Hall in London, Franzosische Dom in Berlin, and Carnegie Hall in New York.
Neighbors said Natalia and her family weren’t home very often because they toured a lot playing concerts.
Juliana Hulse told the Manchester Evening News her reaction to the murder and a little of what she knew about Natalia and her family.
“They go away quite a lot, they are musicians they are bright and talented. I saw them taking a woman away to the hospital she looked quite badly hurt. We never expected that to happen. It was so out of the blue.”
Another neighbor, who wished to remain anonymous, commented about the murder.
“She was only young. It is terribly sad for that to happen to a mother. Everybody is shocked.”
Greater Manchester Police consider Natalia Strelchenko’s death a murder and requests that anybody with information should contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
[Featured image via The Telegraph]
