author
George P. (George Putnam) Upton
1834–1919
A longtime Chicago newspaper editor and music critic, he wrote lively, accessible books that helped everyday readers explore opera, music, and literature. His career stretched from Civil War reporting to decades of shaping Chicago's cultural life.
5 Audiobooks
The Standard Operas: Their Plots, Their Music, and Their Composers (12th edition)
by George P. (George Putnam) Upton
The Standard Oratorios: Their Stories, Their Music, And Their Composers
by George P. (George Putnam) Upton
The Standard Light Operas, Their Plots and Their Music
by George P. (George Putnam) Upton
The Standard Cantatas: Their Stories, Their Music, and Their Composers A Handbook
by George P. (George Putnam) Upton
Letters of Peregrine Pickle
by George P. (George Putnam) Upton
About the author
Born in Roxbury, Massachusetts, in 1834, George Putnam Upton studied at Brown University and moved to Chicago as a young man. He built a long newspaper career there, including work as a reporter, war correspondent, and later music critic for the Chicago Tribune.
Upton became especially known for writing about music in a clear, welcoming way. Alongside his journalism, he published many books on opera, composers, and musical appreciation, and he also translated works from German. His writing helped bring subjects that could seem intimidating within easy reach of general readers.
He remained an important figure in Chicago journalism for decades, eventually serving as a senior editor at the Tribune. Upton died in 1919, leaving behind a large body of work that reflects both his love of music and his gift for explaining it simply.