Concerts
Maxime Goulet introduces Symphonic Chocolates during a tasting concert
with the Orchestre symphonique du Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean
What’s a Tasting Concert?
When an orchestra performs Symphonic Chocolates in concert, the audience is usually invited to eat four small chocolates while each movement of the corresponding flavour is being played. To this end, the orchestra is free to enter into a partnership with a local chocolate shop of their choosing. Some orchestras also take the opportunity to hold a fundraiser event with the chocolate sales.
The piece is usually programmed as the first piece on the second half of the concert. At the end of the first half of the concert, the conductor invites the audience to buy the box of chocolates during the intermission (and specifies to not eat it right away!). In the entrance of the concert hall, the chocolate shop sets up a stand and sells the boxes of chocolate to the audience. Each box contains the four chocolate flavours corresponding to each movement (caramel, dark chocolate, mint, and coffee). It is recommanded to simply serve the chocolates in a cardboard or paper box (a plastic wraping could make noise during the concert).
The audience then brings their box of chocolates into the concert hall for the second half of the concert and eats each chocolate during each movement. The conductor can introduce each movement to guide the audience to eat the right chocolate at the right time.
Some orchestras prefer to perform the piece without a chocolate tasting, as a regular concert piece. With or without chocolates, Symphonic Chocolates is a delight for any audience!
Symphonic Chocolates is often performed by orchestras for Valentine’s Day and for Mother’s Day. Sometimes the work is programmed with other works having a food-related theme, e.g.:
- Soundtrack of the movie “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” or “Willy Wonka”
- Soundtrack of the movie “Chocolat”
- Tchaikovsky: Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy
- Bach: Coffee Cantata BWV 211
Concert calendar of Symphonic Chocolates
2025, June 29 | Oerlikon Orchestra Association (OVOE), Oscar Mario Echeverry | Reformierte Kirche Oerlikon, Zürich, Switzerland
2025, May 28 | Oerlikon Orchestra Association (OVOE), Oscar Mario Echeverry | Orchestra Festival at Avignon, France
2025, Feb. 9 | Kingston Symphony, Evan Mitchell | Isabel Bader Centre for the Performing Arts, Kingston, ON, Canada
2025, Feb. 8 | Albany Symphony Orchestra, Claire Hillard | Albany, NY, United States
2024, Dec. 8 | Orchestre de Ribaupierre, Maxime Pitois | Salle Paderewski – Casino de Montbenon, Lausanne, Switzerland
2024, Dec. 6 | Orchestre de Ribaupierre, Maxime Pitois | Salle Del Castillo à Vevey, Switzerland
2024, Nov. 16 | Harvard Pops Orchestra, Allen Feinstein | Harvard’s Lowell Lecture Hall, Cambridge, MA, United States
2024, Aug. 2 | Auckland Grammar School Symphony Orchestra | Holy Trinity Cathedral, Auckland, New Zeland
2024, Aug. 1 | Auckland Grammar School Symphony Orchestra | Auckland Grammar School Centennial Theatre, Auckland, New Zeland
2024, July 19 | Orchestra of the Academia Claud Brendel, Claude Brendel | Galpão Theatre, Espace culturel Renato Russo, Brasilia, Brazil
2024, July 13 | Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo Barráez | Singapore Botanic Gardens, Shaw Foundation Symphony Stage, Singapore
2024, July 12 | Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo Barráez | Victoria Concert Hall, Singapore
2024, July 10 | Singapore Symphony Orchestra, Rodolfo Barráez | Paya Lebar Methodist Girls’ School, Singapore
2024, Apr. 14 | Kammerochestrer Kloten, François Girard-Garcia | Catholic Church of Kloten, Kloten, Switzerland
2024, Apr. 13 | Kammerochestrer Kloten, François Girard-Garcia | Protestant Church of Seinmaur, Steinmaur, Switzerland
2024, Mar. 20 | Orchestre symphonique de Québec | Salle Albert Rousseau, Sainte-Foye, QC, Canada
2024, Mar. 1 | Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Evan Mitchell | Italian Cultural Centre, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
2024, Feb. 17 | New Texas Sinfonia, Weston Jennings | First Presbyterian Church, Tyler, TX, United States
2024, Feb. 16 | New Texas Sinfonia, Weston Jennings | First Presbyterian Church, Tyler, TX, United States
2024, Feb. 15 | Mid-Texas Symphony, Akiko Fujimoto | New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center, New Braunfels, TX, United States
2024, Feb. 13 | Orchestre classique de Montréal | Salle Picasso, Hôtel Sofitel, Montréal, QC, Canada
2023, Dec. 22 | Orchestre Symphonique de Mâcon, David Hurpeau | Église Saint-Vincent, Mâcon, France
2023, Dec. 21 | Orchestre Symphonique de Mâcon, David Hurpeau | Église Saint-Vincent, Mâcon, France
2023, Déc. 2 | Intersection, Kelly Corcoran | Green Door Gourmet, Nashville, TN, United States
2023, Dec. 1 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | École communale à Dolembreux, Belgium
2023, Nov. 30 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | École Saint-Joseph à Herve, Belgium
2023, Nov. 29 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | Salle La Bodega à Comblain-au-Pont, Belgium
2023, Nov. 28 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | AR Agri à Saint-Georges-sur-Meuse, Belgium
2023, Oct. 8 | Intersection, Kelly Corcoran | 21c Museum Hotel, Louisville, KY, United States
2022, June 5 | Calgary Philharmonic Orchestra | Jack Singer Concert Hall, Calgary, AB, Canada (online concert)
2022, Mar. 6 | Pasadena Philharmonic, James Park | San Jacinto College Central – Slocomb Auditorium, Pasadena, TX, United States
2022, Feb. 5 | Lakeland Symphony Orchestra String Quartet | Ritz, Winter Haven, FL, United States
2021, Dec. 31 | Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Christopher James Lees | Belk Theater, Charlotte, NC, United States
2021, Dec. 11 | Boulder Chamber Orchestra, Bahman Saless | Boulder Seventh-Day Adventist Church, NV, United States
2021, Nov. 21 | Orchestre de Chambre Sérénade, Philippe Ménard | Église Saint-Édouard, Montreal, QC, Canada
2021, Sept. 22 | Aarhus Symphony Orchestra, Nathanaël Iselin | Symphonic Hall, Musikhuset Aarhus, Danmark
2020, Dec. 8 | Imperial Symphony Orchestra | Online concert
2020, Oct. 26 to Nov. 1 | Toronto Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Bartholomew-Poyser | Online concert
2020, Oct. 3 | Windsor Symphony Orchestra, Robert Franz | Online concert
2020, Mar. 14 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | Liège, Belgium
2020, Mar. 13 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | Liège, Belgium
2020, Mar. 12 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | Welkenraedt, Belgium
2020, Mar. 11 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | Liège, Belgium
2020, Mar. 10 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jonas Ehrler | Ohey, Belgium
2019, Dec. 31 | Black Hills Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Knowles | Performing Arts Center, Rapid City, SD, United States
2019, Dec. 8 | Orchestre d’harmonie de Chenôve, Maxime Pitois | Cèdre à Chenôve, Bourgogne, France
2019, Dec. 8 | Orchestre d’harmonie de Chenôve, Maxime Pitois | Cèdre à Chenôve, Bourgogne, France
2019, Nov. 3 | Ensemble Symphonique Neuchâtel, Benjamin Levy | Théâtre du Passage, Neuchâtel, Switzerland
2019, Oct. 5 | Enigma Orchestra, Rupert Bond | St Christopher’s Church, Hinchley Wood, Esher, United Kingdom
2019, Aug. 22 | Tahoe Academy Orchestra, Timm Rolek | West Shore Café, Homewood, CA, United States
2019 June 9 | Orchestre Serenade, Philippe Ménard | Le Ministère, Montreal, QC, Canada
2019, May 8 | Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, Jean-Pierre Haeck | Salle Philharmonique, Liège, Belgium
2019, Apr. 21 | B-A-C-H Chamber Ensemble, The Soloists of Russia | Museum of Ekaterinburg History, Ekaterinburg, Russia
2019, Feb. 23 | Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Lucas Waldin | Centre In The Square, Kitchener, ON, Canada
2019, Feb. 22 | Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony, Lucas Waldin | Centre In The Square, Kitchener, ON, Canada
2019, Jan. 27 | Orchestre de chambre fribourgeois | Musée d’art et d’histoire Lapidaire, Genève, Switzerland
2018, Nov. 1 | Orchestre de la FAMEQ, Amélie Bois | Salle Henri Gagnon, pavillon Casault, Université Laval, Quebec, QC, Canada
2018, June 14 | Chameleon Chamber Ensemble, International Multisensory Research Forum | University of Toronto, ON, Canada
2018, May 20 | Parkway Concert Orchestra, Geneviève Leclair | Saint Susanna Parish, Dedham, MA, United States
2018, Mar. 24 | Orchestre symphonique de Sherbrooke, Stephane Laforest | Sherbrooke, QC, Canada
2018, Mar. 4 | Parkway Concert Orchestra, Geneviève Leclair | Holy Name Upper Church Parish, West Roxbury, MA, United States
2018, Feb. 13 | Syracuse University Symphony Orchestra | Setnor Auditorium, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York, United States
2017, Nov. 19 | River Oaks Chamber Orchestra | Midtown Arts & Theater Center Houston, Houston, TX, United States
2017, Oct. 29 | Conway Symphony Orchestra, Israel Getzov | Reynolds Performance Hall, Conway, Arkansas, United States
2017, Oct. 25 | Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Simon Rivard | Italian Cultural Centre, ON, Canada
2017, Aug. 26 | OCTavo | Meteor Theatre, Hamilton, New Zealand
2017, Aug. 4 | National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Boris Brott | Koerner Hall, Toronto, ON, Canada
2017, July 23 | Orchestre Gens du Pays, Amélie Bois | Eurochesterie, Auditorio do Campus Muscambinho, Sobral, Brazil
2017, July 22 | Orchestre Gens du Pays, Amélie Bois | Eurochesterie, Theatro São João, Sobral, Brazil
2017, July 20 | Orchestre Gens du Pays, Amélie Bois | Eurochesterie, Igreja de Taperuaba, Sobral, Brazil
2017, July 18 | Orchestre Gens du Pays, Amélie Bois | Eurochesterie, Igreja do Jordao, Sobral, Brazil
2017, July 17 | Orchestre Gens du Pays, Amélie Bois | Eurochesterie, North Shopping, Sobral, Brazil
2017, May 6 | Orchestre Gens du Pays | Salle André Gagnon, Université Laval, Sainte-Foy, QC, Canada
2017, Apr. 9 | Orchestre Régional de Normandie, Jean-Pierre Haeck | La Sall’In, Cabourg – 14, Normandie, France
2017, Apr. 8 | Orchestre Régional de Normandie, Jean-Pierre Haeck | Salle des fêtes, Villedieu les Poëles – 50, Normandie, France
2017, Apr. 7 | Orchestre Régional de Normandie, Jean-Pierre Haeck | La Renaissance, Mondeville – 14, Normandie, France
2017, Apr. 4| Orchestre Régional de Normandie, Jean-Pierre Haeck | Théâtre de l’Arsenal, Val de Reuil – 27, Normandie, France
2017, Apr. 2 | Orchestre Régional de Normandie, Jean-Pierre Haeck | Le Rex, Saint-Hilaire du Harcouët – 50, Normandie, France
2017, Apr. 1 | Orchestre Régional de Normandie, Jean-Pierre Haeck | Abbaye, Saint-Sauveur Le Vicomte – 50, Normandie, France
2017, March 30 | Orchestre Régional de Normandie | Collège Fontenelle, Rouen-76, Normandie, France
2017, March 29 | Erreur de type 27 | Pavillon Pierre Lassonde du MNBAQ, Québec, QC, Canada
2017, March 19 | Sinfonia de Lanaudière, Stéphane Laforest | Théâtre Hector-Charland, L’Assomption, QC, Canada
2017, March 16 | Stellae Boreales | Solon Dorado, Teatro Colon, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017, March 15 | Quebec Symphony Orchestra, Kalle Kuusava | Grand Théâtre de Québec, Quebec, QC, Canada
2017, March 15 | Stellae Boreales | Museo De Arte Hispanoamericano Isaac Fenandez Blanco, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017, March 15 | Stellae Boreales | Lincoln International School, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017, March 13 | Stellae Boreales | Tigre School, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017, March 13 | Stellae Boreales | Northlands School, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017, March 11 | Stellae Boreales | Villa Casa Central, Buenos Aires, Argentina
2017, March 5 | Sinfonia de Lanaudière, Stéphane Laforest | Théâtre du Vieux-Terrebonne,Terrebonne, QC, Canada
2017, March 4 | Stellae Boreales | National Arts Centre of Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
2017, Feb. 25 | International Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Bianchi | Northern High School Performing Arts Center, Port Huron, ON, Canada
2017, Feb. 24 | International Symphony Orchestra, Douglas Bianchi | Imperial Theatre, Sarnia, ON, Canada
2016, June 4 | Myriam Genest-Denis Trio | Église Trinity United de Cookshire-Eaton, QC, Canada
2016, May 15 | Oakville Symphony Orchestra, Roberto De Clara | Oakville, ON, Canada
2016, May 14 | Oakville Symphony Orchestra, Roberto De Clara | Oakville, ON, Canada
2016, Apr. 10 | Orchestre d’Harmonie de la Ville de Luzy, Yann Bail | Cinéma Le Select, Saint-Honoré-Les-Bains, France
2016, Apr. 9 | Orchestre d’Harmonie de la Ville de Luzy, Yann Bail | Salle Marcel Joyeux, Luzy, France
2016, Feb. 28 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra, William Eddins | Edmonton, Enmax Hall, Winspear Centre
2016, Feb. 21 | Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Symphonic Orchestra, Geneviève Leclair | Théâtre Banque Nationale, Saguenay, QC, Canada
2016, Feb. 13 | Fountain Inn Symphony Orchestra, Michael Moore | Youth Center for Performing Arts, North Carolina, United States
2016, Feb. 14 | McGill Chamber Orchestra, Boris Brott | Picasso Hall of Sofitel, Montreal, QC, Canada
2016, Feb. 11 | Empire State Youth Orchestras, David C. Beck | Capital District, New York, United States
2015, Sept. 13 | Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser | Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
2015, Sept. 12 | Lancaster Symphony Orchestra, Stephen Gunzenhauser | Lancaster, Pennsylvania, USA
2015, Aug. 1 | Endless Mountain Music Festival, Stephen Gunzenhauser | Corning Museum of Glass, Corning, New York, USA
2015, July 31 | Endless Mountain Music Festival, Stephen Gunzenhauser | Mansfield University, Steadman Theatre, Mansfield, Pennsylvania, USA
2015, May 25 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Quebec City
2015, Apr. 12 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Sorel-Tracy
2015, Apr. 11 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Baie-du-Febvre
2015, Apr. 9 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Montreal
2015, Apr. 12 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Chicoutimi
2015, March 30 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Montrel, Maison de la culture Frontenac
2015, March 28 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Bécancour
2015, March 27 | Quatuor Saguenay (Alcan) | Victoriaville
2015, Feb. 14 | McGill Chamber Orchestra, Boris Brott | Picasso Hall, Montreal
2014, Nov. 21 | Orchestre philharmonique des musiciens de Montreal, Philippe Ménard | Saint-Pierre-Claver’s Church, Montreal
2014, May 6 | McGill Chamber Orchestra, Boris Brott | Bourgie Hall, Montreal
2014, Feb. 14 | McGill Chamber Orchestra, Boris Brott | Chagall-Monand Hall, Sofitel, Montreal
2014, Feb. 1 | Prague FILMharmonic Orchestra, Adam Klemens | Chocolaterie Geneviève Grandbois
2013, Nov. 22 | Valor Symphonics | Parker Arts Center, Parker, Colorado, United States
2013, June 30| Prague FILMharmonic Orchestra, Adam Klemens | Dvořák Hall, Rudolfinum, Prague
2013, March 5 | Edmonton Symphony Orchestra | Winspear Centre, Edmonton, Eddy Williams
2012, Aug. 2 | National Academy Orchestra of Canada, Boris Brott | Brott Music Festival, Burlington (premiere)