THE National Concert Orchestra of Great Britain, dedicated to light popular music and comprising former members of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, Halle and BBC Symphony Orchestras, comes to Liverpool this week.

On Sunday, they will perform a special “centennial celebration concert”, featuring the work of acclaimed composer Leroy Anderson, in the concert room of St George’s Hall. Anderson, a former conductor of the Boston Pops Orchestra, composed many classics of popular light music of the 1950s and 1960s, such as The Typewriter, The Waltzing Cat, Belle of the Ball, Forgotten Dreams, and the first million seller instrumental hit Blue Tango.

The National Concert Orchestra was formed two years ago by conductor Greg Francis, who began his musical career in Liverpool in the early 1960s.

Greg is also musical director of the Kings of Swing – Rat Pack Party which played opposite the RLPO recently at St George’s Hall Viennese Balls event and returns to the Phil for a one-off show on Saturday night.

Having spent many years conducting various orchestras, including the BBC Orchestras and the German Radio Orchestras, he returned to the North West, writing and recording at Liverpool’s Parr Street Studios and going to Hollywood to complete other scores. Greg will also be conducting the RLPO on November 29, for The Rightful Owners of the Song.

TICKETS for the National Concert Orchestra concert and Kings of Swing – Rat Pack Party are available from the Philharmonic Hall box office 0151 709 3789 or online at www.liverpoolphil.com