The National Theater

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National Theater

The National theater is one of the most beautiful buildings in Prague and probably also one of the most accessible. That’s because there are performances just about every night, either opera, ballet or drama in the building. The theater stands on the embankment of the Vltava river in Stare Mesto at the end of Narodni Street.

The theater was conceived in the 1840s as a testament to the independence of the Czech people. The funds for its construction were raised by appealing to the masses and having them chip in whatever money they could spare. Construction started in 1868 and the theater opened in 1881. However, just after it opened, it was closed down again for detail work and it caught fire and the copper dome, the auditorium and stage were all destroyed. A new collection was taken up so the theater could be completed yet again.

Zofin Island and the National Theater

Finally in 1883 the building was re-opened with a performance of Bedrich Smetana’s festive opera, Libuse, which he composed for the opening of the opera house. The building then was used as it was for almost 100 years, not going renovation until 1977!

The building was shut for six years until it was reopened on the 100th anniversary of its first opening, Nov. 18, 1983, again featuring Smetana’s opera Libuse.

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