Michel Sogny
Michel Sogny (born 21 November 1947 in Pau, France) is a French pianist, composer, and writer of Hungarian descent who developed a new approach to teaching the piano.[1]
Also recorded as Mihály Szőnyi
Michel Sogny

Sébastien Randé, photographe · Sébastien Randé · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Born
- 1947. · Pau.
- Nationality
- France.
- Occupation
- pianist, composer, pedagogue and musicologist.
- Movements
- classical music.
- Education
- École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot.
- Languages
- French.
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
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Documentary summary
Michel Sogny (born 21 November 1947 in Pau, France) is a French pianist, composer, and writer of Hungarian descent who developed a new approach to teaching the piano.[1]
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Note VALÉORINE
Michel Sogny (born 1947) is a composer, musicologist and pedagogue, among other activities, of French nationality. The composer was born in Pau.
Michel Sogny was educated at École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot. The composer is associated with classical music. Languages used include French.
Composed from admitted, traceable facts · 26 September 2026
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Authority files
wikidata · Q3310873 · wikipedia · Michel Sogny
In this article
Biography
Biography
Michel Sogny attended École Normale de Musique de Paris, where he pursued piano studies under the direction of Jules Gentil and Yvonne Desportes. He holds a master's degree in psychology, a bachelor's degree in literature and a PhD in philosophy,[3] which he completed at the Sorbonne in 1974 under the direction of Vladimir Jankélévitch. Michel Sogny is the founder of SOS Talents Foundation. Along with Valéry Giscard d'Estaing and Franz Liszt's great-granddaughter, Blandine Ollivier de Prévaux, Sogny was one of the founding members of the Franz Liszt French Association.[4] In 1974 Michel Sogny founded a music school in Paris as well as opening a literary and musical salon where he gathered artists, writers and intellectuals.[6] In 1975, he published his first book, Admiration Créatrice chez List. The preface to his book was written by György Cziffra. In 1981 he appeared in the television series Grâce à la Musique[7] – Franz Liszt directed by François Reichenbach. He also opened a second music school in Geneva.[8] In 1990, Michel Sogny gave a remarkable recital at the Espace Cardin in Paris, where he premiered his works: Triptych, Aquaprism, and Furia.[10] This recital was recorded on CD as Michel Sogny at the Espace Cardin.[11] In 1995, Sogny was invited to be the artistic director at Villa Schindler, a musical institution in Austria, under the patronage of Yehudi Menuhin.[12] Under his guidance young pianists follow masterclasses and perform at international festivals.[14] Some of Villa Schindler students,[15] include pianists: Elisso Bolkvadze, Tamar Beraia, Khatia Buniatishvili, Yana Vassilieva and Anna Fedorova.[16][17] Michel Sogny founded the SOS Talents Foundation whose main goal is to support talented young musicians from economically poor backgrounds (mostly Eastern European countries).[18] Pianists who are the nominees of the foundation follow Sogny's piano method and perform in various concerts.[19] The first gala concert of SOS Talents Foundation was held in 2001 at the Marcel Dassault Palace in Paris, under the patronage of Serge and Nicole Dassault. Participants included Sogny's students Yana Vassileva and Khatia Buniatishvili. The same year Elisso Bolkvadze, Yana Vassilieva, Khatia Buniatishvili and her sister Gvantsa performed at the Théàtre des Champs-Élysées.[20][21] • Illustration — Barbara Tataradze and Ilia Lotatidze with Michel Sogny In 2002, SOS Talents Foundation hosted an international festival in Montreux, Switzerland.[22] Aldo Ciccolini performed along young pianists Elisso Bolkvadze, Tamar Beraia, Khatia Buniatishvili and Yana Vaissileva. In 2004, in Coppet, Switzerland, Michel Sogny founded the new festival Festival de Piano Michel Sogny.[24] In 2009, under the patronage of President of Lithuania, Valdas Adamkus, Sogny hosted a gala concert of SOS Talents Foundation in Vilnius.[25] In 2013, Michel Sogny introduces thriller L’Adulte Prodige. The book narrates the story of a young musician Michele Paris.[26] In 2014, Michel Sogny publishes his philosophical work, De Victor Hugo à Dostoïevsky, a dialogue with Alexis Philonenko.[27] Throughout 2017–2019, Michel Sogny is invited to Georgia to hold master classes in the framework of the Batumi International Festival.[28][29] He is accordingly invited to Japan, at Ishikawa Music Academy.[30]
Literary works
Literary works
• L'admiration créatrice chez Liszt[39] • Le solfège sans soupir (Nouvelle édition entièrement remaniée éditions Sirella) (1984) • Abrégé de solfège (Sirella) • La méthode en question(s) (Sirella) • La méthode en action (Guide de l’Élève éditions Sirella) • Initiation à l'art de la composition musicale (Sirella)[40] • La Musique en Question, entretiens avec Monique Philonenko Ed. Michel de Maule (2009)[41] • L'adulte prodige – Le rêve au bout des doigts Editions France-Empire (2013) • De Victor Hugo à Dostoïevski – Entretiens philosophiques avec Alexis Philonenko, Editions France-Empire (2013)
Scores
Scores
• Dérive pour piano (Durand) • Entrevisions 12 pièces pour piano (Durand) • 12 études pour piano dans le style hongrois Séries I à IV (Durand) • Hommage à Franz Liszt (Durand) • Aquaprisme (Durand) • 3 Pièces dans le style hongrois (Durand)[42] • 12 pièces pour piano pour la main droit seule (à France Clidat) (Artchipel) • 48 Etudes de Perfectionnement (Artchipel) • Etudes pour piano Séries I à IV (Artchipel) • 24 Pensées Vagabondes (Artchipel) • Paralipomènes à une eidétique musicale 14 pièces pour piano (Artchipel) • Pièces de concert pour piano (Artchipel) • Prolegomenes à une eidetique musicale (series I à VII) (Artchipel)[43]
Identity and origins
Identity and origins
The authorities additionally record the heading Mihály Szőnyi. His recorded language was French.
Career and activity
Career and activity
His work is associated with classical music.
Michel Sogny piano method
Sogny's methodology is taught at his schools in Paris and Geneva. Since 1974, over 20,000 students have learned piano by Sogny's method.[31][32] The method consists of two main components: Didactic works (Prolégomènes), which are small exercises developing the perception of musical symphony and sound,[33] and a cycle of etudes, which concentrate on developing of technical skills, as hand gestures and positions.[34] One of Sogny's students, who started piano practice as an adult, was French language professor Michel Paris.[35] After completing Sogny's four-year methodology course, at the age of 30 she performed a solo concert at Théâtre des Champs-Élysées with the patronage of Ministry of Culture.[36] In 1981, the French Senate formally addressed the Minister of Culture, Jack Lang to discuss the introduction of Sogny's methodology throughout France.[37] On June 24, 2023, Michel Sogny received the Grand Prix Alain Fournier for his book "L'Adulte Prodige" awarded at La Sorbonne by "Accademia Euromediterrania delle ARTI"[38]
Honours and awards
• Order of Honor, Georgia (2017)[44] • Honorary Consul of Lituania in Switzerland[45] • UNESCO Diploma of Honour (1994) • United Nations Peace Medal (1986)
Related links
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.Valérie Sasportas (23 April 2010). « Michel Sogny, La musique sans soupirs ». Le Figaro.
- 2.Radio Classique (December 2015). "L’art et la Méthode de Michel Sogny".
- 3.Le Processus de l'esprit créateur chez Liszt
- 4.Association française Franz Liszt 1972 », Documentation Association Franz Liszt, octobre 1972
- 5.Une Association Franz Liszt. Le Figaro. 29. 16 October 1973.
- 6.Hillériteau, Thierry. Les antiques accords de Michel Sogny. Le Figaro. 36. 4 May 2014.
- 7."Grâce à la Musique – Franz Liszt", Le Figaro TV, 11 mars 1981, p. 23 (26 avril 2019)
- 8."Les adultes peuvent apprendre le piano", 24 Heures, 15 octobre 1981
- 9."Nous sommes tous des prodiges", La Tribune de Genève, 19 et 20 septembre 1981
- 10.Michel Sogny. Michel Sogny joue sur Radio Classique son oeuvre Furia dédiée à Gyorgy Cziffra. Youtube.
- 11.rakuten. Michel Sogny - A L'Espace Cardin(Live 1990). rakuten.com.
- 12.Nachruf auf Yehudi Menuhin. Tirolertages Zeitung. September 1993.
- 13.Internationale Kunst in Villa Schindler. Blickpunkt. 27 September 1995.
- 14.Eine Festwoche des Klavier. Blick Punkt. 14 November 2001.
- 15."Klavierfestwochen der Villa Schindler mit Star-Pianisten", Kurier, 4 November 2000, p. 14
- 16.Manheim, James. Khatia Buniatishvili Biography. AllMusic. 21. 15 November 2018.
- 17.Michel Sogny et ses élèves Alexandra Baranova et Khatia Buniatishvili jouent Prolégomènes. beautiful-pianist.info. 12 October 2020.
- 18.Christophe Barbier, « Editorial », Classica L'Express, décembre 2015, p. 3
- 19.Young Georgian pianists to feature in Paris Christmas talents gala. Agenda.ge. 28 November 2019.
- 20.Hillériteau, Thierry. Yana Vassilieva, la revanche d'une surdouée. Le Figaro. 12 December 2011.
- 21.Kalandarishvili, Mikheil. Innovative Approaches to Musical Education. forbes.ge. 3 April 2018.
- 22.Sylvie Bonier, "Les surdoués du clavier ont rendez-vous à Montreux", Tribune de Genève, 25 mars 2002
- 23.Michel Sogny presse Piano Magazine. forbes.ge. May 2002.
- 24.Luca Sabbatini, "Michel Sogny révèle les pianistes de demain", La Tribune de Genève, août 2008
- 25.Mezzo – Philip de la Croix, "Concert SOS Talents en direct de Vilnius Capitale Européenne de la Culture", Mezzo TV, 15 mars 2009
- 26.Sogny, Michel. L'Adulte Prodige. Editions France-Empire. 978-2704811854.
- 27.Sogny, Michel. De Victor Hugo à Dostoïevski : Entretiens philosophiques. Editions France-Empire. 2013. 978-2704812356.
- 28.ვირტუოზი პიანისტები. Georgian Public Broadcaster. 22 September 2019.
- 29.Michel Sogny Piano Method. Batumi music fest. 26 September 2019.
- 30.2019 Ishikawa Music Academy. Ishikawa Music Academy. 26 September 2019.
- 31.Hillériteau, Thierry. Les antiques accords de Michel Sogny. Le Figaro. 2 May 2014.
- 32.L'HUMANISTEDE LA MUSIQUE. 18 May 2017.
- 33.Stephan Friedrich, "L'Art et la Méthode", Classica L'Express", décembre 2015, p. 4
- 34.Georges Hilleret, "Le bonheur de jouer Bach après quelques mois de pratique", Télé 7 Jours, 26 mai 1984
- 35.Stephan Friedrich, "Michèle Paris – L'adulte prodige", Classica L'Express, décembre 2014, p. 9
- 36.Edgar Schneider, "Jours de France", Le Carnet de la Semaine, 3 mai 1980
- 37.Enseignement de la musique : extension du centre Michel Sogny – Sénat.
- 38.A Parigi Festival “Art et livres” 2023, Grand Prix Alain Fournier e Grand Prix Excellence Saint Germain de Prés
- 39.Sogny, Michel. L'admiration créatrice chez Liszt. Buchet-Chastel. 1975. 2702015379.
- 40.Les Editions Musicales Artchipel. SOGNY MICHEL.
- 41.Sogny, Michel. Musique en Question. Michel de Maule. 2009. 2876232421.
- 42.Durand Salabert Eschig. Sogny, Michel: Works.
- 43.Les Editions Musicales Artchipel. SOGNY Michel.
- 44.French composer receives Georgian Medal of Honour. Agenda.ge. 10 September 2017.
- 45.Honorary consuls of Lithuania in Switzerland
References
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Michel Sogny studied at École Normale de Musique de Paris Alfred Cortot.
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 14 August 2026.
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