I had only been a few days in Vienna when I received an invitation to play before the Emperor on the pianoforte. On entering the music-room I beheld an individual whose elegant attire led me to mistake him for an imperial valet-de-chambre. But we had no sooner entered into conversation than it turned on musical topics, and we soon recognised in each other with sincere pleasure brother artists--Mozart and Clementi. {MOZART AND CLEMENTI, 1781.} (199) Mozart continues the description of the scene (January 16, 1782):-- After we had paid each other all manner of compliments, the Emperor gave the signal that Clementi should begin. "La santa chiesa cattoüca!" said the Emperor--Clementi being a native of Rome. He preluded, and played a sonata. "It is worthy of note here," says Berger, "that Clementi was peculiarly fond of extemporising long and very interesting and elaborate interludes and cadenzas in the pauses of his sonatas; it was this propensity which led him to select a sonata for performance which lent itself easily to such treatment, although in every other respect this sonata stands behind his earlier compositions of the same kind. It was the following--[See Page Image] and we have perhaps to thank this subject for the allegro in the overture to the 'Zauberflote,' a composition never surpassed of its kind: [32]-- The Emperor then said to me: "Allons, d'rauf los!" ("Now then, fire away!") I preluded, and played some variations. Then the Grand Duchess[33] produced some sonatas by Paesiello (in his own miserable manuscript),[34] of which I was to play the allegro and Clementi the andante and rondo. Then we each took a subject and carried it out on two pianofortes. By the way, I had borrowed the Countess Thun's pianoforte for myself, but only played upon it when I played alone. The Emperor wished it to be so. The other instrument was out of tune, and had three of its keys sticking. "Never mind," said the Emperor. I look upon it that the Emperor knows my musical powers and knowledge, and wishes to do me justice in the eyes of the foreigners. I know upon very good authority that he was thoroughly satisfied with me. {FIRST ATTEMPTS IN VIENNA.} (200) Dittersdorf confirms this view, and extracts the following from a conversation with Joseph II.:[35]-- _Emperor_: "Have you heard Mozart?" _Myself_: "Three times already." _Emperor_: "How do you like him?" _Myself_: "As every connoisseur _must_ like him." _Emperor_: "Have you heard Clementi also?" _Myself_: "I have heard him also." _Emperor_: "Some people prefer him to Mozart, which makes Greybig wild. What is your opinion? speak out." _Myself_: "In Clementi's playing there is merely art, but in Mozart's both art and taste." _Emperor_: "That is just what I said myself." After the competition, the Emperor sent Mozart fifty ducats, "which were very acceptable at the time." Clementi was delighted with Mozart's playing:--