News and Features

What you thought of: Il turco in Italia

Read a selection of press reviews and audience reactions for Il turco in Italia.

The curtain has now gone up on our production of Il turco in Italia.

Rossini’s sparkling and sophisticated, culture-clash farce. Mariame Clément directs Glyndebourne’s new production of Turco, conducted by Sesto Quatrini.

Read what the audience and critics had to say about the production.

Audience Reaction

That really was a stunner. @glyndebourne Rossini’s Il Turco in Italia bonkers style! This production, I predict, will become an audience favourite. So original, such fun, the colours ….. and the singing …. kill for a ticket pic.twitter.com/graP03J1To

— Andrew Corbett-Nolan (@acorbettn) May 23, 2021

Quite a treat yesterday, first ever trip to @Glyndebourne to see a hugely entertaining Il Turco in Italia which really zips along. Great to be back in a theatre again – sold to its max legal capacity but the auditorium felt far from empty and the audience vocal with its support

— Edward Qualtrough (@QedwardRobert) May 24, 2021

It rained, it was socially distanced, but @glyndebourne was truly magical this evening. The applause for the return of life performance, before a note had been played, was pure joy. pic.twitter.com/lCk0FkdWxZ

— Robin Cantrill-Fenwick (@RobinComms) May 23, 2021

What the critics are saying

‘Chasing away the shadows of lockdown, it’s perfect escapism, and quite brilliantly done.’
★★★★★

– The Guardian

‘Glyndebourne has made a gloriously impressive start to its Festival, with the relaxation of Covid lockdown restrictions coming just in time for the season to begin as originally scheduled.’
★★★★★

– The Express

‘Glyndebourne has a hit on its hands with Mariame Clément’s clever staging of a Rossini comedy’
★★★★★

– The Stage

‘This Turco could – indeed should – become a Glyndebourne staple, possibly even a classic.’
★★★★★

– The Arts Desk

‘It’s brilliantly innovative, it’s hilarious and it’s remarkable…’
★★★★★

– Bachtrack

‘Sesto Quatrini keeps the fun bubbling along in the pit. After a year with no opera, this makes us happy to be back.’

– Financial Times

‘Physical and sung comedy here go hand in hand, thanks to a young cast of brilliant singer-actors’

– Independent

‘This joyous production sends up all the stereotypes’

– The Telegraph

Il turco in Italia is on stage until 20 June 2021

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Il turco in Italia

Photo gallery

Images from the Festival 2021 production of Il turco in Italia.

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Image credits: Il turco in Italia, Festival 2021. Photos by Bill Cooper.

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