Danish chamber orchestra goes viral with chile-eating stunt

A chamber music ensemble in Denmark has gone viral with a video showing its musicians consuming hot chile peppers during a performance of a classical-music number. The spicy peppers cause the musicians to wheeze and writhe in pain, but they manage to finish the piece.

The video was posted online Oct. 31 and has received more than 2 million views. The Danish National Chamber Orchestra performs the opening of the popular “Tango Jalousie” by composer Jacob Gade before each musician consumes a pepper. The ensemble then performs the rest of the piece under the influence of the spicy food.

“I think chile is a good ingredient to have in many parts of your life, and also music,” says concertmaster Erik Heide in the video.

The video is hosted and created by Danish entertainment personality Claus Pilgaard, who goes by the name Chile Klaus. Pilgaard is known in his native country for his enthusiasm for chile peppers and his videos featuring celebrities and chile tastings.

The Danish National Chamber Orchestra consists of 42 musicians and is based in Copenhagen. The ensemble has been around since 1937, according to its official website.

Twitter: @DavidNgLAT