Basildon composer Mark Turnage's opera has been given standing ovations at its world premiere.
Critics say his work, The Silver Tassie based on a play by Irish playwright Sean O'Casey, looks set to become a modern classic.
The story tells of a young Dublin football hero who ends up in wheelchair.
The English National Opera production was staged for the first time last night at the London Coliseum.
The audience gave cast and orchestra rapturous applause.
However the loudest roars of appreciation were for 39-year-old Turnage.
The former Basildon comprehensive school pupil is now regarded by many as Britain's leading composer.
His previous longest work was a jazz quintet mourning the death of his brother from a drugs overdose. The opera will be shown on BBC2 TV on April 30.
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article