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How can a cadenza display a soloist’s technique?

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caricature of Antonio Vivaldi — concerto Caricature of Antonio Vivaldi, pen and ink on paper by Pier Leone Ghezzi, 1723; in the Codex Ottoboni, Vatican Library, Rome. The inscription below the drawing reads, “Il Prete rosso Compositore di Musica che fece L'opera a Capranica del 1723” (“The red priest, composer of music who made the opera at Capranica [College in Rome] of 1723”).

A cadenza serves as a brilliant climax in a concerto, functioning as an unaccompanied passage that allows a soloist to showcase their technical prowess and musical imagination. By dropping the orchestra out entirely, the cadenza provides a dedicated space for the soloist to dazzle the audience with elaborate flourishes and virtuosic passagework.123

Historically, these passages were often improvised by the performer, serving as a display of both technical skill and spontaneous invention. While modern performers frequently use written-out cadenzas—sometimes provided by the composer—the passage remains a focal point for demonstrating a soloist's command over their instrument. Because it is inherently designed for virtuosity, the cadenza allows the soloist to push the boundaries of the musical form, offering a level of technical display that is often more intense than the rest of the movement.12