Hary Janos Intermezzo

The Háry János Intermezzo is an orchestral piece extracted from Zoltán Kodály's folk opera "Háry János," composed between 1925-1927. The opera tells the story of a Hungarian peasant soldier who spins fantastical tales about his supposed heroic adventures, including defeating Napoleon's army and romancing an empress. The Intermezzo serves as a musical bridge between scenes in the original opera but is now frequently performed as a standalone concert piece.

Kodály was part of the early 20th-century movement to incorporate authentic folk elements into classical music, working alongside composers like Béla Bartók to collect and preserve Hungarian folk traditions. The Intermezzo reflects this mission, drawing on genuine Magyar musical traditions rather than the stylized "gypsy" music that was popular in Vienna at the time. The piece has become one of the most recognizable works in the Hungarian orchestral repertoire and is often programmed alongside other nationalist compositions from the period.