Sometime in March 1787, sufficient funds were raised, allowing Beethoven to travel to Vienna.
On April 1, 1787, he was included in the list of arrivals: "Herr Peethofen Musikus von Bonn bei Kolln". The anecdote concerning Beethoven's first glimpse of Mozart has been related in many variations, such as the following:
"Beethoven was taken to Mozart and at that musician's request played something for him which he, taking it for granted that it was a show-piece prepared for the occasion, praised in a rather cool manner. Beethoven observing this, begged Mozart to give him a theme for improvisation. He always played admirably when excited and now he was inspired, too, by the presence of the master whom he reverenced greatly; he played in such a style that Mozart, whose attention and interest grew more and more, finally went silently to some friends who were sitting in an adjoining room, and said vivaciously, 'Keep your eyes on him; some day he will give the world something to talk about'".
@Lessons With Mozart@2
It appears that during his short sojourn in Vienna, Beethoven studied theory with Mozart. This visit was cut short after he received his father's letter urging him to come back at once as his mother was very ill. A few months later we find the following passage in one of his letters:
"...I therefore hurried forward as fast as I could, although myself far from well. My longing, once more to see my dying mother overcame every obstacle...I found my mother still alive but in most deplorable state...after much pain and suffering, she died. She was such a kind, loving mother to me, and my best friend. Ah, who was happier than I when I could still utter the sweet name, mother, and it was heard? And to whom can I say it now?
@Death Of Beethoven's Mother@2
On July 17, 1787, Maria Magdalena, Beethoven's beloved mother died of consumption. Her neighbors never recall having seen her smile or laugh. Caeceilia, the landlord's daughter remembers her as "a clever woman; she could converse and reply aptly, politely and modestly to high and low, and for this reason she was much liked and respected". It seems she did her best to maintain a respectable house despite her worthless alcoholic husband, the frequent pregnancies, the hard work, the early deaths of her parents, and the shame of poverty.
Ludwig clung to her with the most tender love, and she was a refuge from his severe and harsh father.
@Beethoven The Teacher@2
After his mother's death, Beethoven began to teach Stephan and Eleonore Breuning. Stephan was four years younger and Eleonore was two years younger than their new teacher.
His new pupils' mother, Frau von Breuning, befriended him especially, introduced him to literature and cultured society, and even kept a watchful eye over his friendships. "She knew how to keep the insects off the flowers", he said later, meaning certain friendships which endangered the natural development of his talents.
Stephan became a violinist and even played in the electoral orchestra. And Eleonore was one of the many young ladies with whom Beethoven fell in love and hoped to marry. But, Eleonore finally married Franz Wegeler, his best friend. Still, their friendship was not disturbed in any way.
In his "Notizen", Wegeler writes: "The truth as I learned to know it, and also my brother-in law Stephan von Breuning, and others, is that there was never a time when Beethoven was not in love, and that in the highest degree. These passions, for the Misses d'Honrath and Westerholt, fell in his transition period from youth to manhood, and left impressions as little deep as were those upon the beauties who had caused them. In Vienna, at all events so long as I lived there, Beethoven was always in love and occasionally made a conquest which would have been very difficult if not impossible for many an Adonis."
