Variations on a theme by Mozart
Here you can see the autograph score of the Seven Variations for Piano and Cello WoO 46 on a theme from Mozart's The Magic Flute. Beethoven first went to Vienna in 1787 under the patronage of the Cologne Elector Maximilian Franz (a son of the Empress Maria Theresia, brother of the future Emperor Joseph II). Maybe there he met Mozart for the first and only time. The reports of their meeting are purely anecdotal. Mozart reputedly said of the young Beethoven, "Keep your eyes on him, one day he will give the world something to talk about". But the truth of this statement cannot be validated. It is, however, certain that the Elector Maximilian Franz, who originally came from Vienna, greatly admired Mozart and that Beethoven became acquainted with the latter's operas in the Bonn opera house, both as an instrumentalist in the court orchestra and as a member of the audience. He especially admired Mozart's setting of the text and his adeptness at relating words to music. Beethoven wrote a total of four sets of variations on arias from Mozart's operas. The variations on "Bei Männern, welche Liebe fühlen" were composed shortly after a performance of The Magic Flute in the Vienna Hoftheater at the beginning of 1801. As in the opera itself - the original is a duet between Pamina and Papageno - Beethoven endeavours to retain the character of the piece: the cello and piano are partners in the duet. (J.R.)
