Susannah Maria Cibber facts for kids

Susannah Cibber

Susannah Maria Cibber (born Susannah Arne in February 1714 – died January 30, 1766) was a very famous English singer and actress. She was the sister of the well-known composer Thomas Arne.

Susannah started her career as a soprano (a high female voice). But her voice later changed to a true contralto (a low female voice). People loved her because she could make audiences feel strong emotions. She did this both when she sang and when she acted. Her singing voice was sweet, full of feeling, and could move quickly. She was very popular, even if some thought her singing technique wasn't perfect.

A music historian named Charles Burney once said that Susannah could "penetrate the heart" with her singing. This meant she could deeply touch people's feelings. Other singers, even with better voices or skills, could only reach the ear.

The famous composer George Frideric Handel really admired Susannah. He wrote many parts especially for her. These included songs for her contralto voice in his 1741 show Messiah. She also played roles like Micah in Samson and Lichas in Hercules.

In the mid-1730s, Susannah started acting in plays. She also continued to perform in operas and oratorios. She became the best dramatic actress in London during the 1700s. When she died, she was the highest-paid actress in all of England.

Her Life Story

Portrait of Susannah's older brother, Thomas Arne. He wrote a lot of music for plays. He was a very important person in English theater music in the 1700s. Susannah and Thomas were very close their whole lives.

Early Years

Susannah Maria Arne was born in London, in an area called Covent Garden. Her father and grandfather were upholsterers. They made and fixed furniture.

As a child, Susannah learned to sing from her brother, Thomas Arne. Thomas later became one of the most important composers of his time. He was a big part of Susannah's singing career. Her other brother, Richard, also sang and acted. But he was never as successful as Susannah and Thomas.

Her Death

Susannah died in 1766. She was buried in Westminster Abbey, a very famous church in London. On the day she died, two big theaters, Covent Garden and Drury Lane, closed. This was to honor her as one of their best actresses and singers.

When the actor David Garrick heard she had died, he said: "Then tragedy dies with her." This showed how important she was to the theater world.