Václav Neckář and his lifelong love: prima ballerina Jaroslava Žlábková

The love of Václav Neckár's life was prima ballerina Jaroslava Žlábková, with whom he lived for more than forty years. The singer often referred to her as his "angel" and their relationship was strong despite the onslaught of public interest in his person. Neckář fell in love with Jaroslava at first sight during a performance of Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet at the J.K. Tyl Theater in Pilsen in the 1960s.

At first the public knew little about her - Neckář kept the relationship a secret mainly for the sake of his fans. Jaroslava had her own career, she worked in the East German Weimar and later in the Komische Oper in Berlin. After returning to the Czech Republic in 1974, she and Neckár got married, while she was three years older than the singer. She later worked at Laterná Magica and Ballet Studio.

After the birth of their son Václav, Jaroslava partially gave up her professional career in order to devote herself to her family and take care of her husband. Neckář spoke with admiration of her contribution to the family and highlighted their mutual support and understanding.

Unfortunately, Jaroslava Žlábková died in December 2015. She suffered from kidney problems for a long time and had to undergo dialysis regularly, but eventually succumbed to heart failure. Her passing was extremely difficult for Neckar, especially as he was recovering from a stroke he suffered in 2002 and still struggled with limitations in speech and movement. Nevertheless, he maintained a professional approach during the concerts and did not expose the fans to his privacy.

Václav Neckář always emphasized that Jaroslava was his lifelong support and love, who accompanied him through all the challenging moments of his life.