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 ...