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Soprano Elisabeth Meister has joined other stars of the opera world in reacting angrily to a series of reviews criticising the appearance of Glyndebourne singer Tara Erraught.

The Irish-born mezzo soprano was called "stocky", "dumpy" and "unsightly" by critics, all of them male, after her debut as Octavian in Der Rosenkavalier this weekend.

Elisabeth Meister told Phil Williams that she feels "let down" by the reviews, which she considers to be "lazy journalism".

The 27-year-old singer has so far declined to comment on the reviews.