Allegations

“Every time I would walk off stage, he would be in the wings waiting for me,” MsWulf said.

“He would come right up to me, as close as could, put his face right into mine, lower his voice and say, ‘Patricia, do you have to go home tonight?’ ”

Spanish-born Domingo said in a statement: “The allegations from these unnamed individuals dating back as many as 30 years are deeply troubling and, as presented, inaccurate.

“Still, it is painful to hear that I may have upset anyone or made them feel uncomfortable – no matter how long ago and despite my best intentions.

“I believed that all my interactions and relationships were always welcomed and consensual.

“However, I recognise that the rules and standards by which we are – and should be – measured against today are very different than they were in the past.”

Domingo’s accusers say they were prompted to speak out by the #MeToo movement. Most were young at the time of the alleged incidents and just starting out in their careers.

Seven of the nine women say their believe their careers were adversely affected because they rejected Domingo’s advances.

Some claim the roles he is said to have offered them never materialised and others say they never worked for him again after moving to different companies.Ms Wulf said: “As soon as you walk away you think, ‘Did I just ruin my career?’ and that went on through that entire production.”

One singer claimed Domingo repeatedly asked her out on dates after hiring her to sing in a series of concerts with him during the 1990s.

“A business lunch is not strange,” a complainant said. “Somebody trying to hold your hand during a business meeting is strange or putting their hand on your knee is a little strange.”

Born in Madrid in 1941, Domingo is acknowledged to be one of the greatest opera singers of all time.

In 1990, he teamed up with Luciano Pavarotti and Jose Carreras to perform as The Three Tenors. Their first recording became the best-selling classical album of all time.

A multi-Grammy award winner, he was given an honorary knighthood by the Queen in 2002.