Die Prinzen

Originating in Germany, Die Prinzen (The Princes) comprise singers who had earlier performed with the Thomanerchor, the choir of St. Thomas Church in Leipzig. The ensemble gained recognition for a cappella singing, even though a substantial portion of its output includes instrumental accompaniment, typically set to incisive numbers whose lyrics deliver sharp satire and frequent political commentary. Assembled in the early '90s, the lineup features vocalists Tobias Künzel, Henn Schmidt, Sebastian Krumbiegel, Jens Sembdner, and Wolfgang Lenk, drummer Ali Zierne, and bassist Matthias Dietrich. The group has sustained an active presence on both the concert stage and in the studio well into the new millennium.