intermezzo

Intermezzo is a term used across music, theater, and cuisine to denote a short piece or course inserted between larger sections. The word comes from Italian intermezzo, meaning “between acts” or “between middle things” (inter- meaning between and mezzo meaning middle).

In the performing arts, an intermezzo originally referred to a short musical or comic performance placed between acts of a serious opera or play to provide relief or to bridge the narrative. In Baroque and early Classical contexts, intermezzos could be standalone pieces or comic sketches that developed into a distinct genre. Pergolesi’s La serva padrona is frequently cited as a landmark example that helped popularize the form beyond its original theatrical use. In later centuries, the term also came to denote brief instrumental pieces that stand alone, rather than strictly serving as interludes within a larger work. Brahms’s Intermezzi for piano, compiled in the late 19th century (Op. 118–120), are among the best-known examples of this instrumental use.

In culinary terms, an intermezzo refers to a palate-cleansing course served between courses, often a sorbet, intended to refresh the taste buds before the next part of a multicourse meal. The concept has also entered general culture as a label for short, transitional moments in films, books, and other media, signaling a brief interruption or shift in mood.

See also Interlude.