World renowned concert pianist Mihaela Ursuleasa has died at age 33.
The Romanian-born piano prodigy was found dead in her apartment in Vienna by police officers on Thursday morning at about 11 am. The probable cause of death is cerebral haemorrhage, according to Vienna police spokeswoman Adina Mircioane.
A statement on Ursuleasa's website said, "We have not only lost a wonderful person but one of the greatest artists our musical world has known".
The message continued, "We are in deep sorrow because of her sudden unexpected death. Our thoughts are with her daughter and her mother."
Beginning her career at age five, Ursuleasa was considered a child prodigy. When she was just 13, she received a scholarship from Italian maestro Claudio Abbado and studied at the Vienna Conservatory for eight years.
Ursuleasa gave recitals at world-renowned concert venues such as Amsterdam's Concertgebouw, the Philharmonie Cologne, Konzerthaus Vienna, Tonhalle Zurich, Carnegie Hall in New York.
In 2010, she received the ECHO Klassik award in the "Solo Recording of the Year" category (19th century, piano) for her debut album "Piano & Forte". Her second solo album "Romanian Rhapsody" was released in March 2011.
Ursuleasa had recently cancelled two concerts in Bucharest due to health issues.
She is survived by a five-year-old daughter and mother.
