344:. One account states that Cibber forced his wife at gunpoint to sleep with Sloper; another places a spy in a closet at the scene of one of their trysts, in order to gather testimony for the lawsuit. In any event, Theophilus Cibber was awarded a paltry £10 in damages. The following year, he brought a second case against Sloper for "detaining" his wife. In fact, Cibber and Sloper had run off together, and had a daughter, Susannah Maria (Molly). This time Theophilus Cibber was awarded £500. His intention, going into the lawsuit against his estranged wife and her new lover, was to shame Cibber as a cruel, unfaithful wife. However, as she was pregnant at the time of the trial, she shifted the public perception of herself to being an innocent woman, merely the victim of her husband's cruelty and greed.
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the makings of a great tragic actress, trained her. Susannah received hours of acting tuition from her new father-in-law, and he helped teach her valuable vocal intonations and tragic gestures that shaped her into the most celebrated tragedienne of her time. Further, adopting a 'Cibberian identity' proved very advantageous for
Susannah's career. Public audiences began to view her as the young ingénue of the Cibber acting dynasty, which in turn, helped land her leading roles. Her brother Thomas also benefited from the marriage as he became house composer at Drury Lane, and wrote music for a number of plays and pantomimes over the next several years.
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542:. The boy's mother, Cecilia Arne, suffered from recurring health problems and this, compounded with Thomas's busy work schedule, made it impossible for his parents to care for him. Under Susannah's guidance, Michael started out as a stage actor at Drury Lane before he reached the age of ten. He later followed in his father's footsteps to become a successful composer.
418:"What then must be, when conveyed to the heart with all the superadded powers and charms of musick? No person of sensibility, who has had the good fortune to hear Mrs Cibber sing the oratorio of the Messiah, will find it very difficult to give credit to accounts of the most wonderful effects produced from so powerful a union."
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at this time. The marriage proved beneficial to
Susannah's career and position in the London theatre, as she became a regular at that house for many years, now performing under the name "Mrs Cibber". Even more important was the attention of her father-in-law Colley Cibber who, recognizing in Susannah
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Her home in London became a salon of sorts on Sunday evenings. Burney, referring to these evenings, wrote that he found himself "in a constellation of wits, poets, actors, and men of letters", including Handel, Garrick, and Arne. She was also engaged by Handel for his oratorio season, creating the
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From 1744 to 1765 she added numerous dramatic roles to her repertory and was, after
Garrick, the highest paid thespian in London. Contemporary reviews, dedications, letters and poems all refer to her ability to affect the listener deeply. She wrote a masque which was performed in Covent Garden in
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ran in London, thrilling audiences. Both shows received much publicity, and audiences often watched both versions, to decide who they thought were the superior star-crossed lovers. Cibber fell ill on the thirteenth night, ending the competition between the two shows. Eventually, she and
Garrick
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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 eighteenth-century London stage and at the time of her death was the highest-paid actress in
England.
431:. The tragic nature of her character helped perpetuate the public's view of her as a 'wronged wife', a persona she adopted following the well-documented breakdown of her marriage. Following this, she continued adding many more tragic roles to her repertoire.
170:. He was a highly prolific composer of music for the stage and is considered the most significant figure in 18th-century English theatre music. Susannah and Thomas enjoyed a close lifelong relationship and Arne was the most constant presence in her life.
199:, who would later become one of the most important composers of the era and an important part of Cibber's career as a singer. Her other brother, Richard, also worked as a singer and actor but never achieved the same level of success as his siblings.
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Cibber's marriage was not a happy one. He was reportedly abusive and a profligate spender, and even began selling off some of his wife's wardrobe and personal effects to deter creditors. In order to pay rent, the
Cibbers took in a wealthy tenant,
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252:. It was the beginning of a close and lifelong friendship. Handel patiently taught her parts note by note as she could not read music. Also that year, her name appeared in the playbills offering entr'acte songs "by popular demand" at the
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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
566:. On the day of her death, Covent Garden and Drury Lane closed their doors as a tribute to one of their finest actresses and singers. Garrick, upon hearing of her death, said: "Then tragedy dies with her".
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in a rival version of the same show, performed across the street in Drury Lane, to run concurrently with Cibber and Barry's version. For twelve nights, beginning on 28 September 1750, rival versions of
494:'s leading lady at Drury Lane, the theatre managed by her father-in-law, and their partnership and friendship (reflected in letters) continued until her death. Garrick directed her, alongside actor
271:'s plays. In addition to often appearing with his wife on the stage prior to their divorce, Susannah and Theophilus authored several plays together which were ultimately not that successful.
512:, whereupon the characters have a final conversation, after Romeo has poisoned himself. However, after a brief falling-out between Garrick and Cibber, she and Barry took their version of
504:, written by Garrick himself. Garrick's version was well received by eighteenth-century audiences, as it omitted many 'indecent' moments, and added to the tragic tomb scene between
113:. She was universally 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
407:, upon hearing her sing "He was despised", proclaimed "Woman, for this be all thy sins forgiven thee!" On 21 and 28 July she sang a duo recital with her sister-in-law, the soprano
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The year 1733 proved to be a critical year for
Susannah Arne. She met Handel while rehearsing and performing the role of Jael in the original production of his oratorio
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with her good friend and mentor, the actor James Quinn. Handel joined her there, and she performed in several concerts with him conducting including performances of
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Eventually the scandal surrounding Cibber died down, and she returned to the London stage in autumn 1742. The first role she performed upon her return was that of
363:, who was Thomas Arne's pupil, says that Handel "was very fond of Mrs Cibber, whose voice and manners had softened his severity for her want of musical knowledge".
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In April 1734, Susannah Arne married actor
Theophilus Cibber. He was the son of playwright, theatre manager, and poet laureate
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1751. Also, during this time, Susannah became the primary caregiver and teacher for her young nephew,
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A portrait of
Theophilus Cibber in the role of Ancient Pistol, a character who appears in several of
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411:(née Young). The Dublin notices were full of praise for Cibber for both her acting and her singing.
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An
Account of the life of that celebrated actress, Mrs. Susannah Maria Cibber ...
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830:"Bodies in Play: Maternity, Repertory, and the Rival Romeo and Juliets, 1748-51"
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One source states that she had a son and a daughter, who both died young, by
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Susannah died on 30 January 1766 and was buried in the north cloisters of
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and she appeared in the world premiere of her brother's immensely popular
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In 1736, Cibber made her début as a dramatic actress in the title role of
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wrote in that year "A Poem to the Memory of the Celebrated Mrs Cibber":
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On 13 March 1732, she made her professional debut in the title role of
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640:, National Museum of the Performing Arts (UK). Retrieved 27 April 2008
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on 13 April 1742, singing the contralto solos. Legend has it that Dr
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In 1740, Cibber sang in the world premiere of her brother's masque
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and his theatre company were introduced to the young Susannah.
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748:""What's in a name?": Romeo and Juliet and the Cibber Brand"
441:. In 1744–1745 she continued to sing for Handel, now at the
90:; February 1714 – 30 January 1766) was a celebrated English
524:. This prompted Garrick to cast himself and young actress
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to Thomas and Anne Arne; her father and grandfather were
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The Provoked Wife: the life and times of Susannah Cibber
393:. She also joined the premiere performance of Handel's
868:. Bloomington: Indiana University Press. p. 384.
621:, Handel House Museum, London. Retrieved 27 April 2008
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for her but, due to illness, she never sang the role.
577:... Closed are those eyes which knew each varied art,
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reconciled, and she returned to Drury Lane in 1753.
702:"SLOPER, William (1709-89), of West Woodhay, Berks"
583:Freeze with wild horror, or with rapture fire! ...
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The Beggar's Pantomime, or The Contending Columbine
195:. As a child, she studied singing with her brother
951:Donnelly, Molly (2001). "Susannah Maria Arne". In
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962:The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians
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579:And could my meaning with such force inspire;
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798:ed. L. Macy (Retrieved 19 November 2008),
581:Call tears of pity from the melting heart,
481:. Handel also wrote the part of Daniel in
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892:ed. L. Macy (Retrieved 14 January 2009),
794:Molly Donnelly: "Susannah Maria Cibber",
773:1983/ccf76512-7b75-49ec-84ca-ee79c5a2eebb
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1234:Actors from the London Borough of Camden
1219:18th-century British women opera singers
1155:An Apology for the Life of Colley Cibber
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812:Mrs. Cibber's oratorio salary in 1744–45
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179:Susannah Maria Arne was born in the
166:Portrait of Cibber's older brother,
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888:John A. Parkinson: "Michael Arne",
650:Brooks, Helen E. M. (11 May 2011).
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449:. Her roles included Jael in
203:Career, marriages and scandal
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706:History of Parliament Online
219:to positive reviews, at the
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1063:She Would and She Would Not
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828:Phillips, Chelsea (2019).
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303:over the part of Polly in
191:and office holders in the
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147:and the role of David in
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965:(2nd ed.). London:
668:10.1215/00982601-1214090
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810:Ilias Chrissochoidis, "
656:Eighteenth-Century Life
490:In 1744, Cibber became
135:, the role of Micah in
405:St Patrick's Cathedral
379:Aungier Street Theatre
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353:George Frideric Handel
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1177:Susannah Maria Cibber
894:(subscription access)
818:20/1 (Spring 2009), .
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84:Susannah Maria Cibber
1119:The Provoked Husband
1071:The Careless Husband
967:Macmillan Publishers
862:Mann, David (1996).
617:24 July 2008 at the
516:to Garrick's rival,
403:, the chancellor of
229:, and her brother's
209:John Frederick Lampe
899:16 May 2008 at the
612:Handel's Associates
526:George Anne Bellamy
351:A 1727 portrait of
237:The Opera of Operas
1079:The Double Gallant
890:Grove Music Online
796:Grove Music Online
636:1 May 2008 at the
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306:The Beggar's Opera
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1171:Theophilus Cibber
1031:Love's Last Shift
976:978-1-56159-239-5
912:OpenLibrary.org.
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472:Alexander's Feast
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752:Shakespeare
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700:Lea, R. S.
301:Kitty Clive
269:Shakespeare
213:Henry Carey
168:Thomas Arne
115:vocal range
103:Thomas Arne
1193:Categories
923:19 October
588:References
484:Belshazzar
289:Aaron Hill
281:Drury Lane
175:Early life
942:Mary Nash
782:194764200
684:143215911
676:1086-3192
601:DNB entry
569:The poet
518:John Rich
466:L'Allegro
423:Desdemona
254:Haymarket
158:Biography
111:contralto
959:(eds.).
897:Archived
634:Archived
615:Archived
546:Children
456:Hercules
232:Rosamund
183:area of
144:Hercules
128:oratorio
100:composer
74:Children
936:Sources
478:Messiah
451:Deborah
428:Othello
425:, from
415:wrote:
396:Messiah
249:Deborah
132:Messiah
107:soprano
96:actress
51:England
1130:(1729)
1122:(1728)
1114:(1724)
1106:(1721)
1098:(1717)
1090:(1709)
1082:(1707)
1074:(1704)
1066:(1702)
1058:(1700)
1050:(1699)
1042:(1697)
1034:(1696)
973:
947:(1977)
872:
780:
682:
674:
510:Juliet
438:Samson
389:, and
387:Esther
375:Dublin
370:Alfred
321:masque
217:Amelia
197:Thomas
185:London
138:Samson
124:Handel
92:singer
47:London
1173:(Son)
1147:Other
1023:Plays
833:(PDF)
778:S2CID
680:S2CID
558:Death
520:, at
506:Romeo
325:Comus
86:(née
971:ISBN
925:2018
870:ISBN
713:2022
672:ISSN
508:and
475:and
461:Saul
316:Saul
293:Zara
239:and
150:Saul
94:and
88:Arne
62:Died
40:Born
845:doi
814:",
768:hdl
760:doi
664:doi
445:in
355:by
291:'s
215:'s
1195::
969:.
955:;
916:.
841:60
839:.
835:.
776:.
766:.
756:14
754:.
750:.
733:25
704:.
692:^
678:.
670:.
660:35
658:.
654:.
554:.
469:,
385:,
328:.
243:.
235:,
53:,
49:,
1008:e
1001:t
994:v
981:
979:.
927:.
878:.
847::
784:.
770::
762::
735:.
715:.
686:.
666::
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