The huge building and its golden roof dominates the banks of the Vltava, it is an impressive and familiar outline in Prague’s landscape. But the early stages of its being were rather arduous and its story reminds more of an epic. The idea leading to its building dates back to the second half of the 19th century, when the Czech National Revival was culminating. At the time, the renewal of the Slavic culture in all fields of creation was developing, countering the supremacy of the Habsburgs and the German culture.  The building of a massive Czech theater raised keen interest among the masses, and a huge collection was organized to finance it. The building was inaugurated with great pomp in 1881 with Smetana’s opera Libuše (legendary Czech heroin). Eight days later, the whole building was entirely destroyed by a fire lit by accident… Pride being stronger, the theater was rebuilt in record time following another collection. The inscription “From the Nation to itself” (Národ sobě) on the pediment recalls this specific background.

The present building was rebuilt by the architect Josef Schultz, it was the biggest construction site ever seen at the time. It presents a Neo-Renaissance style and was decorated by the best Czech painters and sculptors, called the “National Theater generation”. The large concert hall seats 1700 and includes luxurious balconies and boxes, dominated by the presidential box with its canopy topped by the Saint Wenceslas crown.

Repertoire: mainly Czech great composers with Janáček’s trilogy (Jenufa), Smetana (Libuše) and Dvořák (Rusalka). Also Italian operas with Verdi (Rigoletto, Aida, the Requiem and La Traviata) and Puccini (Tosca, La Bohème). When it comes to ballets, Tchaikovsky is given pride of place with The Nutcracker and Swan lake.