Soprano Ileana Cotrubas has died at the age of 87, the Bucharest National Opera announced on Thursday.

In a Facebook statement, the institution said it 'mourns the passing of Ileana Cotrubas, one of the most important Romanian voices of the 20th century and a landmark of the international operatic stage.'

Born in Galati on June 9, 1939 into a family of musicians, Cotrubas began her artistic path at just nine, singing in the Romanian Radio Children's Choir. She moved to Bucharest in 1952 to attend the Special School of Music and made her debut at the Bucharest Opera in 1964, before going on to conquer major stages worldwide.

A laureate of prestigious international competitions, Cotrubas performed at the Vienna State Opera, Hamburg, Berlin, the Salzburg Festival, Glyndebourne, the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Teatro alla Scala in Milan and the Metropolitan Opera in New York. A defining moment of her career came in 1975, when she stepped in at the last minute for Mirella Freni as Mimi in La Bohème at La Scala — a performance that became emblematic for her international acclaim.

Admired for the uniqueness of her voice, the intelligence of her phrasing and the expressive force of her interpretations, Cotrubas worked with legendary conductors and left a profound mark on the operatic repertoire, from Mozart and Verdi to Puccini, Bizet and Offenbach.

After retiring from the stage, she continued to serve the art of singing through teaching and masterclasses, shaping and inspiring generations of artists.

'Ileana Cotrubas remains in the memory of Romanian and universal opera as an artist of rare vocal and scenic nobility. Smooth journey to the stars, Maestra!,' the Bucharest National Opera said. AGERPRES (RO - writing by: Petronius Craiu; EN - writing by: Simona Klodnischi)