In most of the Italian operas the singing parts areeach like a canvas on which the gifted singer or songstressputs his or her soul and genius，and with the varied，wavy colors creates the form the poem requires.Howmuch more glorious they must be able to reveal themselveswhen the music is composed and carried out throughthought centered upon the character;and Gounod andThomas have understood.
That evening at the theater，the character Hamletwas given flesh and blood，and he raised himself into theposition of the leading personage in the opera Unforget-table was the night scene on the ramparts，where Hamlet，for the first time，sees his father's ghost-the scene inthe castle，before the stage that has been erected，wherehe flings out the words that are drops of poison -the ter-rible meeting with his mother，where the father's ghoststands with avengeful attitude before the son-and final-ly，what power in his voice，what tones，at Ophelia'sdeath!She was the sympathetic lotus flower upon thedeep，dark sea;its waves rolled with a mighty force intothe soul of the spectators.That evening Hamlet becamethe leading figure.The triumph was complete."Fromwhom did that boy get it?"said the merchant's rich wife，as she thought of Peer's parents and his grandmother upin the garret.The father had been a warehouseman，goodand honorable，and had fallen as a soldier on the field ofhonor-the mother，a washerwoman-but that does notgive the son culture;he had grown up in a charityschool-and how much knowledge could a provincialschoolmaster give him in a period of two years?
"It is genius!"said the merchant."Genius-that isborn of God's grace."
"Most certainly!"said his wife.And she folded herhands as she talked to Peer."Do you really feel humble inyour heart at what you have received?Heaven has been in-conceivably gracious to you!Everything is given you.Youdo not know how gripping your Hamlet is!You simply can-not imagine it!I have heard that many great poets do notthemselves know the glory of what they have given;thephilosophers must reveal it to them.Where did you getyour conception of Hamlet?"
"I have thought about the character，have read agreat deal of what has been written about Shakespeare'swork，and then on the stage I have tried to put life into theperson and his surroundings，I give my share，and our Lordgives the rest."
"Our Lord!"she said with a half-reproving look."Donot use that name in such a manner!He gave you ability，but you surely do not believe that He has anything to dowith the theater and opera!"
"Yes，most certainly!"said Peer courageously."Hehas a pulpit there，too，and most people listen more therethan in church!"
She shook her head."God is with us in everythinggood and beautiful，but let us be careful not to take Hisname in vain.It is a gift of grace for one to be a greatartist，but it is still better to be a good Christian."Felix，she felt，would never have compared the theater and thechurch before her，and she was glad.
"Now you have fallen out with Mamma!"said Felix，laughing.
"That was so far from my thoughts!"