intermedi

The term "intermedi" refers to musical and theatrical performances presented between the acts of a play or opera, particularly in Italy from the late 15th through the 17th centuries. These interludes often featured instrumental music, singing, and dancing.12

In 16th-century Florence, intermedi were elaborate spectacles staged between the acts of spoken plays. They served to mark the passage of time and provide entertainment unrelated to the main plot. These productions, often planned by prominent figures like Giovanni Bardi, were designed to impress guests with the wealth and power of their hosts, such as the Medici family. The 1589 intermedi, for example, included elaborate stage effects, costumes, and music, containing many elements that would later define opera.3

Over time, intermedi evolved. Comic intermezzi performed between serious operas in the 17th and 18th centuries gave rise to opera buffa, or comic opera. In the 19th century, "intermezzo" also became the title for light instrumental pieces.2