It was a patriotic Christmas at the Cincinnati Pops' holiday show, Thursday night in Music Hall.

        The tragedy of Sept. 11 was never far from peoples' minds in this glitzy variety show led by Pops maestro Erich Kunzel, which ended with the audience singing “America the Beautiful” facing a flag as wide as Music Hall's stage.

        For openers, Grammy-winning gospel diva Sandi Patty, flanked by flag-bearers Steve Coldiron of the Cincinnati Fire Department and police officer Al Staples, brought down the packed house with her rendition of the national anthem. Emphasizing the words “land of the free,” she belted it out Kate Smith-style, building to a fever pitch.

        For much of the evening, that was the style of this Indiana native and mother of eight, who made no fewer than five costume changes. “The Battle Hymn of the Republic,” started deliberately and picked up steam as Ms. Patty nailed her final high note, arms stretched to the heavens, backed by full power of orchestra and the May Festival Chorus.

        It was inspirational, but no more so than Ms. Patty's considerable vocal prowess. Resplendent in sparkly royal blue (outfit No. 4), she displayed her versatility in a souped-up version of “Jingle Bells” — that went from jazz to salsa, with operatic acrobatics at its center. (Her “diva” impersonation came out sounding more like Zsa Zsa Gabor than Maria Callas, though.)

        Ms. Patty glowed in the softer moods. She had a stylish way with words in Mel Torme's “The Christmas Song,” where she threw in a few effortless octave leaps and modulated up a step with pinpoint intonation.

        “Because of the tragedy in our country, people are praying a whole lot,” she said, as she launched seamlessly into “How Great Thou Art.” Her voice was smooth and breathy in “Silent Night,” and had high-octane punch in “O Holy Night.”

        The May Festival Chorus provided professional backup and enunciated beautifully in carols such as “What Child is This.”

        Ballerinas from the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cincinnati Ballet added charm to “My Favorite Things” and “Once Upon a December.” The Cincinnati Studio Cloggers wowed with a routine worthy of the Rockettes in “Winter Wonderland,” complete with a kick line and the splits.

        Mr. Kunzel and his orchestra were in fine form (a highlight was a brass arrangement of “Joy to the World”). But, with the orchestra wedged into the Act II set of Cincinnati Ballet's Nutcracker, the sound had less presence than usual.

        More than 10,000 are expected to attend all three Pops concerts, but good seats remain for the show at 7 p.m. today. 381-3300.

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