divertissements

Divertissement is a French term used in music and theatre to denote a light, entertaining interlude or set of interludes inserted into a larger work. The concept was especially prominent in French Baroque operas and opera-ballets, where dances, songs, and spectacle could be performed between more serious acts. These entertainments were often designed to display the talents of dancers and singers and to provide variety for court audiences.

In opera and ballet, a divertissement may be a self-contained sequence, sometimes structured as a suite of dances such as various courtly dance types, and it could function as a moment of relief or spectacle within the drama. The numbers are typically independent from the main plot, yet they contribute to the overall scale and mood of the production.

In instrumental music, the related term divertimento refers to light, entertaining pieces intended for informal performance, usually comprising several short movements. Composers such as Haydn and Mozart wrote works described as divertimenti, which served as instrumental counterparts to the stage divertissement in conveying variety and charm without heavy dramatic content.

Today the term is mainly historical and scholarly, used to describe interludes or ensemble numbers in period performances and in discussions of Baroque and Classical era entertainments. It denotes a specific function—providing amusement and variety—rather than a distinct, ongoing musical genre.