Wiesław Ochman was born in Warsaw and initially wanted to be a painter. He began his artistic education in the Lower Silesian town of Bolków, then also studied ceramics at the Mining Academy in Kraków. During this time he also sang solo with the academic musical ensemble. As he told PAP, he thought his singing would last a year, but his professor suggested to him to try opera first, then to return to the Mining Academy for a PhD. "I'm still trying out opera" he said.
In 1960, Wiesław Ochman joined the Silesian Opera in Bytom, where he sang for three seasons, then he went on to the Opera in Kraków. Between 1964 -1970 he performed at the National Opera in Warsaw. In 1965 he sang the tenor lead of Jontek in Stanisław Moniuszko's "Halka", in the gala performance for the opening of the reconstructed Teatr Wielki - Grand Theatre in Warsaw.
Wiesław Ochman began his international career in 1967 with the Staatsopera in Berlin - as Turiddu in their premiere production of Pietro Mascagni's "Cavalleria Rusticana" . He sang in Munich and Hamburg. In 1972, he was engaged by the Paris Opera, and consecutively by operas in Chicago and San Francisco. In 1975, with the role of Arrigo in "I Vespri Siciliani" by Giuseppe Verdi, Ochman made his debut at New York's Metropolitan Opera. He has worked with conductors such as Herbert von Karajan, Kazimierz Kord and Stefan Rachoń. Among his many recordings are those done for "Polskie Nagrania" and "Deutsche Grammophon" - among others Mozart's "Idomeneo" and "Requiem", Richard Strauss' "Salome" and Stanisław Moniuszko's "Halka".
In 1999 Wiesław Ochman turned to stage directing, producing among others Mozart's "Don Giovanni"and Verdi's "Traviata" at Bytom Opera. For many years now he has led the Opera's programme council.
Poland's Minister for Culture and National Heritage Piotr Gliński wrote in a letter addressed to Wiesław Ochman on his birthday that he possessed an extraordinary lyrical tenor voice and from the earliest performed leading operatic parts. He also underlined Ochman's philanthropy and his generous support for Polish cultural heritage as well as young Polish artists.
A special message on the artist's birthday was also sent by Polish President Andrzej Duda.
As Wiesław Ochman told PAP, he intended to make this a busy year, touring nationwide with concerts, also to mark the 120th birthday anniversary of tenor Jan Kiepura, and making new recordings, also with his grandson, the singer Krystian Ochman.