Why Did the Orchestra Eat Chili Peppers?

Janos Gereben on November 11, 2014

"Danish National Chamber Orchestra performs while eating chili peppers," said the headline in a CBC report last week.

A potentially funny (and bizarre) story with a sad side to it:

They have, quite literally, suffered for their art. In a video posted online on Friday, musicians with Denmark's National Chamber Orchestra are shown pausing mid-performance to eat the world's hottest chili peppers. They then continue performing "Tango Jalousie," with their faces deep red and tears running down their cheeks.

It's not certain that stunt was connected with the orchestra's situation, but here it is: The orchestra, which has been in operation for 75 years, is scheduled to shut down at the end of the year due to budget cuts. Surely something to cry about.