Susannah Maria Cibber: Biography, Facts and Career

Susannah Maria Cibber (née Arne; February 1714 – 30 January 1766) was an English singer and actress. She was the sister of the composer Thomas Arne. Although she began her career as a soprano, her voice lowered in the early part of her career to that of a true contralto. She was admired for her ability to move her audiences emotionally both as an actress and vocalist. Possessing a sweet, expressive, and agile singing voice with a wide vocal range, Cibber was an immensely popular singer, even if at times her voice was criticized for a lack of polished technique. Charles Burney wrote of her singing that "by a natural pathos, and perfect conception of the words, she often penetrated the heart, when others, with infinitely greater voice and skill, could only reach the ear". Cibber was particularly admired by Handel, who wrote numerous parts especially for her including the contralto arias in his 1741 oratorio Messiah, the role of Micah in Samson, the role of Lichas in Hercules and the role of David in Saul, among others. In the mid-1730s she began appearing in plays in addition to appearing in operas and oratorios. She became the greatest dramatic actress of the 18th-century London stage, and at the time of her death was the highest-paid actress in England.

Quick facts about Susannah Maria Cibber

• Full name: Susannah Maria Cibber
• Born: 1714-02-01
• Nationality: Kingdom of Great Britain
• Known as: Musician
• Wikidata ID: Q1638296

Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.