From a ringing bluegrass mandolin to chiming steel drums, from the stately to the silly, “Home for the Holidays” has a little of everything.

        Thursday night's edition of the annual Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra yuletide celebration at Taft Theatre followed the all-encompassing nature of shows past with slight tweaking.

        CSO associate conductor John Morris Russell again directed, but while he made his presence felt the orchestra — as brilliant as usual — played second fiddle to a revolving cast of dancers, singers, costumed characters and such.

        The opening number, “Angel's Dance,” was as pretty as anything on the night, but the accompanying video shots looking from above downtown Cincinnati stole the spotlight. One number with nothing to distract the audience from the orchestra would have been nice.

        As it is, the show, clocking in just under two hours including intermission, has plenty of highlights. The CSO Yuletones' somber a cappella take on the traditional Appalachian ballad “I Wonder As I Wander” leading into the Khamisi Drum & Dance Theater showpiece “Little Drummer Boy” was one.

        Another was the Comet Bluegrass All-Stars. The red-sweater-wearing crowd didn't know what to make of the combo when singer Ed Cunningham appeared with his fiddle and white cowboy hat, but they were soon won over as the sextet worked through “O Beautiful Star of Bethlehem.”

        An island-themed block was the most fun part of the show. Andre McRae's lead vocals stood out on two very different tunes: “Christmas Island,” with minimal accompaniment of tuba, sax and ukulele; and “Santa Does the Mambo,” a full-blown orchestral affair featuring the Miami University Steel Band.

        The most impressive moment was non-musical. “A Christmas Narration” had Katie Johannigman reading the 1897 letter to the New York Sun with Mr. Russell reciting the famous “Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus” response. The Maestro's recitation was flawless and appeared to be completely from memory, unless there was some extremely well-hidden TelePrompTer on the premises. But to think so cynically is as bad as not believing in Santa Claus.

        Home for the Holidays repeats 11 a.m., 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Saturday; and 2:30 p.m. & 7:30 p.m. Sunday.
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