A Dictionary of Music and Musicians/Cibber, Susanna

CIBBER, Susanna Maria, sister of Dr. Thomas Augustine Arne, the celebrated composer, was born Febr. 1714. She made her first public appearance in 1732, at the Haymarket Theatre, as the heroine of Lampe's opera 'Amelia,' with considerable success. In April 1734 she became the second wife of Theophilus Cibber. On Jan. 12, 1736, Mrs. Cibber made 'her first attempt as an actress' at Drury Lane Theatre in Aaron Kill's tragedy of 'Zara,' and was soon accepted as the first tragedian of her time, a position which she maintained for thirty years. Her success as an actress, did not, however, lead her to abandon her position as a vocalist; in the theatre she continued to represent Polly in 'The Beggar's Opera,' and other like parts, but it was in the orchestra, and more especially in the oratorio orchestra, that her greatest renown as a singer was achieved. The contralto songs in the 'Messiah,' and the part of Micah in 'Samson,' were composed by Handel expressly for her, and when we consider that the great composer must have regarded singing as an intellectual art, and not merely as the means of displaying fine natural gifts of voice, unaided by mental cultivation or musical skill, we may judge why he selected Mrs. Cibber as the exponent of his ideas. Her voice, according to all contemporary testimony, although small, was indescribably plaintive, and her powers of expression enabled her to impress most forcibly upon the mind of the hearer the meaning of the language to which she gave utterance. Passing by the songs in 'Messiah,' which call for the highest powers of declamation and pathetic narration, we have only to examine the part of Micah in 'Samson,' comprising songs requiring not only the expression of pathetic or devout feelings, but also brilliancy and facility of execution, to judge of Mrs. Cibber's ability. And what sterling advantages must have been derived from the combination of the powers of a great actress with those of a vocalist in the delivery of recitative! Mrs. Cibber died Jan. 30, 1766, and was buried in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey. It is said that Garrick, on hearing of her death, exclaimed, 'Then Tragedy expired with her.'

[ W. H. H. ]