An intermezzo is an instrumental movement between the acts of an opera, although it’s not unknown for a composer to use the title for a free-standing piece.
Mascagni’s Intermezzo from the opera Cavalleria rusticana is certainly one of the most well-known examples. The opera was premiered in 1890 in Rome.
Initially I was unconvinced that Mascagni’s Intermezzo would make a suitable piece for guitar ensemble, however I soon found that not only was it effective it could remain in the original key.
Unsurprisingly there are already numerous arrangements of the piece including those for piano, piano (four hands), piano and violin, and organ. I consulted many editions before settling on the version for five guitars presented here.
