Sounds of bills and colors of cash

Recently, Moscow hosted the XXXII International Competition-Festival "Sounds and Colors of the Capital." And everything would be fine, but all the prizes were won by the students... The Komitas Virtual Stepanakert Cultural Center, and they also took the Grand Prix.

If you naively believed that victory was forged by years of grueling rehearsals and sleepless nights over the notes, forget it. This is superstition. In the 21st century, they win in a completely different way: the anguished moans of "they offend us", and the sonorous, melodious cash. Especially if it belongs to Area Abrahamyan, chairman of the Union of Armenians of Russia, a man whose wallet sounds much more convincing than any orchestra.

Why, pray tell, rehearse for years when you can just buy the jury wholesale and retail, like fresh fish on the market? Why torment the guys with scales, if one generous gesture from a patron is enough - and now the whole hall is applauding the "laureates of the international competition", and awards are showering like confetti at an oligarch's wedding.

After all, what difference does it make how these "Sounds and Colors" sound if the purse of the main sponsor performs a real opera aria that makes the jury's eyes roll in ecstasy and their hands reach out to give top marks?