Police have arrested a man on suspicion of the murder of a world-renowned concert pianist after she was found dead with serious head injuries at her home.
Paramedics attempted to revive Natalia Strelchenko, 38, at her house in Newton Heath, Manchester in the early hours of yesterday morning, but she died a short time later.
Emergency services were called to the house at 12:45 am on Sunday following reports that a woman had been assaulted.
Police said a 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody for questioning.
A post-mortem revealed that Strelchenko died due to multiple head and neck injuries.
Strelchenko, who was born in Russia, made her first concert appearance at age 12.
She studied at the St Petersburg State Conservatory and the Norwegian State Academy of Music gaining a PhD in arts research.
Strelchenko performed at venues including the Wigmore Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York and the Franzosische Dom in Berlin. She was an artistic director at the Menestrelles International Chamber Musical Academy in Paris.
Her website describes her as “one of the country’s most renowned solo pianists of international calibre.”
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Neighbours have said that she was the mother of two young children.
Roger Dowling, chairman of the Alderley Edge Orchestra in Manchester with whom Strelchenko often played, told the Manchester Evening News: “I was in frequent contact with her and she was a charming, vivacious woman.”
“Natalia had a tremendous effect on the audience. She played in a very flamboyant way and she was totally approachable.”
Greater Manchester Police have asked anybody with information to contact the police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
Additional reporting by Associated Press
