As a prodigy in Bonn, Beethoven’s greatest ambition had been to travel to Vienna, take lessons from the man who was a living legend, Mozart.
When Beethoven was 17, armed with a letter of introduction from Max Franz whom Mozart knew, he gained entry into Mozart’s home. Was ushered into Mozart’s music room, to meet his dream idol. They met just once in their lifetime.
“Play something,” he told Beethoven. He played opening of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 24 in C minor. “Not that,” said Mozart. “Anybody can play that. Play something of your own.” So Beethoven did.
When he finished, Mozart called wife Constanze, “watch out for that boy. One day he will give the world something to talk about!” Agreed to take Beethoven as a pupil. Before he could start his tuitions though, Mozart died.
Beethoven’s admiration, championing of Mozart’s music remained undimmed for rest of his life. Published his variations for cello, piano on aria ‘Ein Mädchen oder Weibchen’ from Mozart’s The Magic Flute and another aria from The Magic Flute, Papageno’s ‘Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen’.