A murder probe has been launched after world-renowned concert pianist Natalia Strelchenko was found dead at her home.

The Russian-born Norwegian pianist Natalia Strelchenko, 38, has been found battered to death in domestic premises at Newton Heath.

Police and paramedics were called at 12.45am yesterday and attempted to revive her but she died a short time later.

A 48-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder and he remains in custody for questioning.

“Natalia was a talented, beautiful, much loved mother, daughter, sister and friend”, her family said in a statement.

Strelchenko was a solo pianist of worldwide calibre who made her debut at the age of 12 with the St Petersburg Symphony Orchestra.

She had been artist in residence at Leeds College of Art and a research fellow at the Norwegian Academy of Music in Oslo.

Since 2014 Ms Strelchenko had been assistant professor at the Conservatoire of Belfort in France.

The Rev Cody Coyne, of Cross Street Chapel, said the city centre church was “shocked and saddened” because Ms Strelchekno had often performed there.

She had performed at venues including the Wigmore Hall in London, Carnegie Hall in New York and the Franzosische Dom in Berlin.

An artistic director at the Menestrelles global Chamber Musical Academy in Paris, Natalia was due to play at several concerts across Europe later this year.

Martin’s own career in classical music lacked the star quality of his wife’s, and the couple lived most of their lives together in Norway, before moving to the UK a few years ago.

Juliana Hulse, 31, said: “They go away quite a lot, they are musicians, they are bright and talented. She looked badly hurt”.

‘We never expected that to happen.

She leaves grieving parents and a child. It is terribly sad for that to happen to a mother.

‘We have a team of detectives investigating this murder and are asking for anyone with information that may assist our enquiries, to please get in touch’.