Former Glyndebourne chorus member, soprano Alison Roddy, took a lead role in English National Opera's last production of the season.

In this newly-cast revival of Mark-Anthony Turnage's The Silver Tassie she plays one of the central roles, that of girlfriend Jessie to Harry Heegan, the anti-hero of the opera taken from Sean O'Casey's play of the same name.

Set in Dublin slums and on the battlefields of the First World War, the opera looks at the footballing hero Harry, who returns from the fighting crippled and confined to a wheelchair.

Sussex baritone Gerald Finley created the role two years ago and here it is sung by Garry Magee. Other Sussex-based singers, Mark le Brocq, John Graham-Hall and David Kempster, also take part.

Turnage's music and Amanda Holden's libretto are immediately accessible and I believe this modern work to be among the finest new operas since the death of Benjamin Britten.

It is powerfully done, not least the scene on the battlefield where the soldiers prepare to go over the top by kicking a football before them.

This is a stage version of battle that frighteningly puts the audience in the front-line trenches where you can almost smell the cordite.

Ms Roddy is excellent as Jessie, not least when hanging on to the football hero's arm, and is even more powerful in her failure to come to terms with Harry's paralysis.

An ENO live recording of the original production is now available on CD, price £11.99, and is available direct from the opera house on 020 7845 9500 or online at www.eno.org