Les innovations scéniques de Mariano Fortuny à l’hôtel de Béhague : une scène idéale ?

Mariano Fortuny’s scenic innovations : an “ideal” modern stage at the Hôtel de Béhague ? Mariano Fortuny (1871-1949), in Paris since 1901, went about trying to draw attention to the scenery machines he had invented and, in particular, a conch, called “dome” intended to reform Wagnerian Mise-en-scene. Artistic circles were interested but he only found the opportunity of convincing when he met Martine de Béhague, comtesse de Béarn (1870-1939) and built at the Hôtel de Behague the first full size dome, whose evolution is understable thanks to the study of patterns and unpublished archives. This single testimony of his research, still in situ, rediscovered in 1998, will soon be renovated. This first venture in the theater world was, no doubt, the most important move in his career since his having put his ideas to the test, then his meeting with such personalities as Adolph Appia and the freedom the Countess allowed him, spurred him to realize what had only so far been on paper : an “ideal” modern stage, which was imitated in Germany. The experience opened new possibilities in w'hich he was to succeed later : textile (the stage curtain) and fashion.