By Frank Giordano

Special to The Pilot

Carolina Philharmonic kicks off its 2013 Pops Series with "Early Valentine's" on Saturday, Feb. 9, at 7 p.m., at Lee Auditorium of Pinecrest High School.

For this Valentine's Day, instead of gifts of sweets and candy, treat your lovers, young and old, to a musical feast catered by Maestro David Michael Wolff and the Philharmonic.

A "Cole Porter Salute," appropriately, begins the evening, with "Another Op'nin, Another Show." Then Wolff gets right to the romantic theme of the holiday with selections from such classics as "In the Still of the Night," "Anything Goes" and "Night and Day."

Perhaps the finest soprano aria in the entire canon of Italian opera is "Si, Mi Chiamano Mimi" from Giacomo Puccini's masterpiece, "La Boheme." In her simple, unaffected introduction of herself to the poet Rodolfo, the impoverished Mimi has enchanted and wooed generations of audiences.

In performing "Mimi" for the first time locally, soprano Young Mee Jun will give the audience her rendition of the aria that has defined the careers of the greatest sopranos of all time.

The remainder of the evening's program includes music from contemporary films: the magnificent orchestral suite from "Les Miserables," and, of particular interest to the youngsters-of-all-ages in the audience, the stirring "Harry Potter Symphonic Suite" and "Star Trek through the Years."

Fans of the Carolina Philharmonic are aware of Wolff's commitment to the training of youthful musicians. As he has done in the past, Wolff will feature several of the young people who are currently training with him.

Flutist Helen Kim, the 2011-12 Carolina Philharmonic Scholarship recipient, will perform the lyrical "Voyage for Flute and Strings," created by contemporary American composer John Corigliano.

In addition, for the final two selections of the evening, members of the Fayetteville International Youth Symphony will mount the stage and join the Carolina Philharmonic.

"Bring your young children and grandchildren, to listen and be inspired by the wonderful work your support of the Carolina Philharmonic is making possible," says a spokesman.

Tickets are: $25 for general admission; $40 for reserved seats; $20 for military; and $10 for student and are available at www.shop. carolinaphil.org or by calling (910) 687-4746.