There are several distinct meanings. In the Renaissance, an Intermezzo was a short
musical theater performance, usually on a mythological or pastoral subject, that took
place between the acts of a comic play. In the 18th century, an Intermezzo was a comic
operatic interlude placed between acts or scenes of an opera seria. In the 19th century,
the term Intermezzo began to be used also to describe instrumental works, as either
a movement between two others in a larger work, or a standalone character piece.
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