Theodor Mackeben (1897-1953) was a German composer of world-famous hits. After his studies at conservatories in Cologne and Warsaw he made a name for himself as a concert pianist, in particular as accompanist for the violin virtuoso Leopold Przemislav. In 1922 he gave up concertizing and moved to Berlin, where he became stage conductor at the Volksbühne (People's Theater) and later at the state theater. As conductor and musical arranger he enjoyed much success (e.g. with the Threepenny Opera and Paris Life). But he also composed himself, including the music to the stage works of Gustav Freytag and Franz Molnár.



His first success in musical theater was attained with the composition of the operetta "Lady Fanny". He also reached a broad spectrum of the public with the arrangement of the operetta "Countess Dubarry", which he premiered in 1931 under the title "The Dubarry" and to which he added an original composition "Ich schenk mein Herz nur dir allein" ("I give my heart only to you").



From the 1930s on he became one of the most important film composers. Especially popular became "Bel Ami" ("Handsome Friend"), "Die Nacht ist nicht allein zum schlafen da" ("Nighttime Is Not Just For Sleeping") and "Frauen sind keine Engel" ("Women Are No Angels").