Russian opera diva Obraztsova dies at 75

MOSCOW (AP) - Russia's famed mezzo-soprano Elena Obraztsova, who has performed at the world's top opera houses, died Monday at age 75.

Obraztsova's cultural foundation said in a statement that she died of cardiac arrest at a clinic in Germany, but didn't provide further details.

Born in Leningrad, Obraztsova as a child survived the devastating Nazi siege of the city during World War II. In 1963, she debuted in Moscow's Bolshoi Theater as Marina Mnisek in "Boris Godunov."

She performed at many stages worldwide, including La Scala in Milan, the Metropolitan Opera in New York and the Royal Opera House in London. Her parts included Azucena in Verdi's "Il Trovatore;" Dalila in Saint-Saens' "Samson et Dalila;" and Amneris in Verdi's "Aida."

She made her Met debut as Amneris in 1976 and sang her final performance in Prokofiev's "War and Peace" in 2002.

Russian President Vladimir Putin sent condolences to Obraztsova's family.

The singer will be buried at Moscow's Novodevichy cemetery on Thursday.