Romanian soprano Sanda Şandru has died at the age of 85.

Born on July 15, 1938, Șandru began her musical studies in Timișoara and went on to study in Bucharest at the “Ciprian Porumbescu” Conservatory.

She became a soloist at the Bucharest National Opera, debuting in the role of Leonora in “Il Trovatore.” Her career took her to some of the most important theaters in the world, including the Paris Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Bayerische Staatsoper and the Bolshoi Theatre.

Sandru’s repertoire included many Verdi works such as “Ernani”, “Otello”, “Aida” and “Don Carlos” as well as Puccini’s “La Bohème,” “Madama Butterfly,” and “Turandot.” She also sang Mozart’s “Don Giovanni” and “The Marriage of Figaro,” Bellini’s “Norma,” Tchaikovsky’s “Eugene Onegin.”

In 1993, she began working as a professor at the National University of Music in Bucharest.

Throughout her career, she won multiple awards including the Romanian Composers Union Award.