Porst came from the capital and royal seat of Weimar (
Saxe-Weimar-Eisenach). There he first attended the Grand Ducal . From 1873 to 1876, he was at 's
Orchesterschule. As one of his most advanced piano students, he was privileged to participate in the lessons of
Franz Liszt. After his education, he became a music
house teacher for the children of the
Landgrave of Hesse. For a time, he lived in
Holstein for this purpose. Porst then worked at the theatre in
Stettin. After his military service he went to the theatre in
Danzig. In 1883 he came to
Leipzig as
music director of the municipal theatre, where he was responsible for
operetta and
Spieloper. As second
Kapellmeister, he then stood on the podium alongside Richard Hagel and
Egon Pollak. Later he also worked as a concert conductor. In 1918, the Elberfeld Kapellmeister
Hans Knappertsbusch succeeded him, having previously retired for health reasons. From 1907 to 1925, as Heinrich Klesse's successor, he was director of the "Opera School". at the
University of Music and Theatre Leipzig. From 1886, Porst was married to the soprano Ottilie Andes (1864–1909). == Awards ==