Mozart wrote his piano concertos as musical advertisements to prove he was the best performer in Vienna.

Between 1782 and 1786, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart composed 15 piano concertos specifically for his own subscription concerts in Vienna. These performances were essential for his financial survival as a freelance musician after leaving the service of the Archbishop of Salzburg. By acting as both composer and soloist, he demonstrated a level of virtuosity that no other contemporary could match.Historical analysis of Mozart's original manuscripts, such as the 'Coronation' Concerto (No. 26), reveals that he often left the soloist's part partially blank or written in shorthand. According to musicologists like Robert Levin, this was a deliberate strategy to ensure that only Mozart himself could perform the work perfectly. This prevented competitors from publishing or performing his music before he had fully capitalized on its popularity.Mozart's strategy worked remarkably well during his 'golden years' in Vienna. Records from the period show that he earned over 1,000 florins for a single concert series, a staggering sum compared to the average musician's annual salary of 200 to 400 florins. His 27 piano concertos remain the definitive bridge between the Classical and Romantic eras, blending technical brilliance with deep emotional complexity.These works were not just art but calculated business tools designed to secure his status among the Viennese elite. By maintaining exclusive control over the performance of his most difficult pieces, Mozart effectively monopolized the high-end musical market in the Holy Roman Empire's capital. This period of intense productivity solidified his legacy as the first truly successful independent composer in Western history.