El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1915-12-25
CHRISTMAS CAROLS SUNG I'm PLAZA
SIGNOR PICCHI GIVEN AN OVATION
Military Band Plays Patriot c Airs Soldiers Chorus
Sings Christmas Songs nd School Children Chant
Carols-Italian Opera Singers Solo Splendid
Climax in Spit of Auto Horns

- IONEER plaza was filled with
Christmas eve crowds The hotel
Il and office building windows were
crowded with spectators and the plaza
vas a blaze Of light and mass OF
color. A military band played patriotic
airs as only military bands can play
the school children sang carols from
The Herald building balcony in their
plaintively sweet childish voices and
the soldiers chorus sang Christmas
songs and the American hymn.
There was a moment Of expectant
silence, a trumpet call wavered on the
night air star twinkled on the front
Of the Sheldon, and the band crooneo
a prelude softly Then from the bal
cony Of the Sheldon the clearest, rich
est male voice that has been heard IN
FL PasO since David Bispham sang
here, floated out over the crowds and
filled the open plaza like a DeneQlc-
ton It was Signor Italo Picchl ana ne
sang to the Christmas eve audience as
he has sung before grand opera audi
ence IN his native Italy and throughout
the world
For a majority of his audience II was
the first time Signor Picchi's wonder
ful voice had been heard in FL Paso
and his singing of Holy Night" by
ADAMS IN MS ulDLnCE Ions uEs Was TIC
climax OF a splendid Christmas eve
program. The applause for the IA
nous singer sWelled and swept over the
plaza in waves until it amounted to a
personal ovation Signor Picchi &C
knowledged the enthusiastic reception
given his song number with graceful
bows
While the solo was being sung the
star Of Bethlehem twinkled against the
dark background OF the building.
making a most effective Christmas
picture with the strands Of lights. the
illuminated tree and the mass OF peo-
DIE in the plaza The fun band &C
compartment for signor Picchfs solo
was as wei rendered as was the song.
The accompaniment was just loud
enough 10 guide the singer and the
brasses did not intrude into the mel
ody. leaving the reed section to carry
the air.
The success Of the first municipal
Christmas tree celebration and choral
concert was in spite Of the constantly
honkiug and screaming automobile
horns, the clang Of street car gongs as
the cars passed through the plaza and
the appearance OF an automobile dis
play on a truck, with two siren horns
going The police made every effort
10 control the autos, but there were
too many and they filled the plaza,
between the car tracks and the curb
ing and prevented many standing on
the walks from seeing and hearing the
concert.
Four ChOraIs.
The four choral numbers IN which
the crowd OF spectators Joined with
animation and spirit, were led by Mat
thew H. Lemen. The first choral was
the world renowned "Ae.stes Fideles"
which struck the Christmas note as no
other air will do: there then followed
the singing of America; Silent
Night which was sung soft and low;
and The Star Spangled Banner"
ChiIdren's Carols.
A truly Christmas number was the
singing Of A Christmas story a beau
tiful carol from the porticO Of The
Herald building by 81 children from
the Villas school under the leadership
of Miss Lauramaud Fink The song had
all the quality Of youth and spontaniety
about il that could be associated with
young hearts and was sung with an
earnestness and fervor that won the
applause Of the many listening people
below The young men and young
girls in this number were recruited