For This, Be All Thy Sins Forgiven!

Susannah Cibber, Diva of Pathos

Elaine M. McGirr, Senior lecturer in English and Drama at Royal Holloway, University of London

Prostituted by her husband and disgraced by a public (and graphically illustrated) trial for adultery, Susannah Cibber refused either to fade away or to be reduced to the ‘actress as whore’ trope. This talk details Susannah Cibber’s canny self-promotion as a tragic heroine, and incorporates excerpts from her signature roles and contemporary responses to them. McGirr’s talk will be accompanied by a contralto performing two of her most popular arias (‘He was despised’ from The Messiah and ‘Was ever Nymph like Rosamund’ from Rosamund.)

Accompanying Contralto: Suzanne Mahaney

Thursday, January 15, 2015
4:30 – 6:00 PM
Porter Hall 100

Image credit: Johann Zoffany, Garrick and Susannah in Venice Prserv’d, Courtesy of the Garrick Club
Co-sponsored by the Duquesne University English Department