intermezzo

formin-ter-MET-sohfrom Italian

A short connecting piece between acts of an opera, or an independent character piece.‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌

In Depth

An intermezzo originally served as a short musical entertainment performed between the acts of an opera or play.‌‌‌‌‌‍‌‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‍‍‌‌‍‌‌‌‌‍‍‍‍‌‍‍‌ Over time, the term expanded to include standalone instrumental pieces — typically lyrical, intimate character pieces for solo piano. Brahms wrote some of the finest intermezzi in the piano literature, particularly in his late collections (Op. 116–119), where they became vehicles for profound emotional expression despite their modest scale. In opera, the Intermezzo from Mascagni's Cavalleria rusticana is one of the most frequently performed orchestral excerpts, a moment of calm beauty between scenes of passion.

Did you know?

The Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana is played at so many funerals and memorial services that it has become almost synonymous with mourning, despite being from an opera about passion and jealousy.

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