In Prague, a high-minded new Rheingold never gets off the ground

Adam Plachetka (Wotan)

The National Theatre Opera Ballet

Jana Sibera (Woglinde) and Joachim Goltz (Alberich)

Štefan Margita (Loge)

Štefan Margita (Loge) and Adam Plachetka (Wotan)

By Frank Kuznik, 14 February 2026

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“weighty add-ons clutter what is otherwise an evening of striking visuals and captivating music”

Reviewed at National Theatre (Národní divadlo), Prague on 12 February 2026

Wagner, Das Rheingold

Prague National Theatre Opera

Robert Jindra, Conductor

Sláva Daubnerová, Director

Boris Kudlička, Set Designer

Dorota Karolczak, Costume Designer

Karel Šimek, Lighting Designer

Prague National Theatre Orchestra

Sebastian Huber, Dramaturgy

Jitka Slavíková, Dramaturgy

Kateřina Hubená, Set Designer

Andreas Deinert, Video

Štefan Margita, Loge

Joachim Goltz, Alberich

Adam Plachetka, Wotan

Alžběta Poláčková, Freia

Michaela Zajmi, Wellgunde

Jana Sibera, Woglinde

Rose Naggar-Tremblay, Erda

Kateřina Jalovcová, Flosshilde

Tone Kummervold, Fricka

Josef Moravec, Froh

Jaroslav Březina, Mime

Pavol Kubáň, Donner

Zdeněk Plech, Fafner

František Zahradníček, Fasolt

Ermanno Sbezzo, Choreography

Parsifal reconsidered: A provocative improvisation in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 26th March

Timo Riihonen and Ester Pavlů stand out in a strong cast which carries Andreas Homoki's revised version of Wagner's final opera.

****1

Musically excellent Bartered Bride in Prague marred by meta production

Dominic Lowe, 4th March

Smetana in Prague is never likely to be less than a delight, and the National Theatre assembles a fine cast for a revival of Alice Nellis' production of his greatest opera.

****1

Dido and Aeneas in Prague: wide-eyed wonderment

David Karlin, 15th January

Alice Nellis' staging of Purcell's masterpiece is both historically faithful and innovatively modern. With Collegium 1704 providing the early music chops, it's a rare treat.

*****

Revival of Ostrčil’s The Legend of Erin misses the mark in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 16th October

An ambitious effort to honor hometown hero Otakar Ostrčil sags under its own weight at the Prague National Theatre.

***11

A bleak Jenůfa from Calixto Bieito

Frank Kuznik, 22nd May

The director drains the life out of an impassioned opera with a staging devoid of authenticity and ideas.

**111

Cherubini’s Medea falls flat in Prague

Frank Kuznik, 22nd February

The challenges of Cherubini’s version of the Greek tragedy prove too much for the National Theatre to overcome.

**111

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Frank Kuznik

Frank Kuznik is the former Editor-in-Chief and Culture Editor of The Prague Post, Central Europe’s premier English-language weekly newspaper. He currently divides his time between Prague and his hometown in the US, Cleveland, where he covers northeast Ohio's dynamic classical music scene. In Prague he is an habitué of the Rudolfinum, National Theater, State Opera and other storied classical music venues, and an unabashed fan of Czech music.