The Reader’s Notebook: Leopold Mozart and Johann van Beethoven

Johann van Beethoven and Leopold Mozart were both musicians and fathers of famous composers and share the same birthdate of November 14th. Although they never likely met, Johann was inspired by Leopold's success and tried to replicate it with his own son. Beethoven's music was influenced by Mozart's scores, and he paid homage to Mozart throughout his life, including quoting from Don Giovanni in the 22nd Diabelli Variation.