Beethoven Is Transported by Mozart

“At an Augarten Concert the two pianists [Beethoven and his friend, the great English pianist Johann Baptist Cramer] were walking together and hearing a performance of Mozart’s pianoforte Concerto in C minor (K. 491); Beethoven suddenly stood still and, directing his companion’s attention to the exceedingly simple but equally beautiful motive which is first introduced towards the end of the piece, exclaimed:  ‘Cramer, Cramer!  we shall never be able to do anything like that!’  As the theme was repeated and wrought up to the climax, Beethoven, swaying his body to and fro, marked the time and in every possible manner manifested a delight rising to enthusiasm.”—A.W. Thayer, The Life of Beethoven (5 Volumes, 1866–1908)