I am trying to find out the dates that Porgy and Bess opened or was
performed by the NY City Opera or the Metropolitan Opera companies on
their own stage or  opera house. Particularly, dates or seasons that
the Met company performed the piece.  On my own I have found a NY
Opera City Company performance on March 20, 2002. And I am aware that
sometime in 1985 The Met presented the opera (need more detail).
Can you give me the opening night or any span of dates for Porgy and
Bess only for those companies as part of their opera season offering,
not visiting road tours, not concert or invitational presentations.

According to the Sunday NY Times of February 3, 1985, Porgy and Bess
opened at the Met on Wednesday, Feb 6 of that same week:


After 50 Years, 'Porgy' Comes to the Met as a Certified Classic
pg H1, NY Times, 2/3/1985

..."Porgy and Bess" is about to open at the Metropolitan Opera.  The
Wednesday performance will be Met's first of an opera that has played
in more than 100 cities...

==========



Another NY Times article mentions a much earlier City Opera production:

City Operas Gives 'Porgy and Bess'
NY Times, April 2, 1962, pg 26

...in the spring of 1961, the work...was given by the New York City
Light Opera Company...


The same production...turned up Saturday night in the repertory of the
New York City Opera at City Center...


[Note from pafalafa-ga:  Saturday would have been March 31, 1962]


Hope that's what you needed, but if there's anything else I can do,
just let me know.

pafalafa-ga

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Request for Answer Clarification by gizmogal-ga on 02 Mar 2005 12:48 PST

Your answer is quite helpful. Is it true from what I gather from your
answer that  there has been no other more recent performance at the
Met since 1985 (thanks for the Feb 6, 1985 date).  Just making sure
that was the first and last time it was at the Met. And did that
article mention how many performances or when it closed--how long a
run at the Met?
Delighted to get the extra info about the City Opera in 1962! 

Spectacular work. I am very grateful. Worth more than I was able to pay.

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Clarification of Answer by pafalafa-ga on 02 Mar 2005 14:48 PST

gizmogal-ga,

Thanks for the very nice feedback.

I found mention of only one other staging of Porgy at the Met -- it
showed again on September 29, 1989, and that performance was part of a
run of unspecified duration.

Sorry...but I didn't see anything on the length of the 1985 run either.

I can't say for sure that have been no other productions of Porgy at
the Met, but none showed up in my searching.

Thanks again,

paf

Super fast response. Good  digging. Wish I had more $ to pay for this fine answer.