Biography

Influential composer of music for films, opera and ballet, as well as popular songs. The son of a textile merchant, he was at his peak while under contract to Universum AG (Ufa films) during the 1930's and 40's. Bochmann began his career as a pianist for the Argentinian orchestra of Jose Soler. His first compositions were published by Irving Berlin in 1929. At Ufa from 1933, he wrote numerous themes for motion pictures, often leading his own Tango orchestra. Some of his recordings (for Columbia) feature his most famous discovery, the actress and singer Ilse Werner.

He got his first important musical work as a pianist at the Argentine orchestra of José Soler and was introduced into a new music world.

During wartime, when the entertainment film was very important for the public mental state he composed musical backgrounds and hits to movies like "Quax, der Bruchpilot" (1941).

The film-composer Werner Bochmann belonged to the leading film-composers from the middle of the 30's and influenced the golden era of the musical movies.

Werner Bochmann studied at his father's request chemistry after World War I but soon his enthusiasm for music caught on. He earned his first money at the State Opera where he rehearsed roles with singers. In the following years he studied music by Joseph Gustav Mraczek and Frank Schreker.