Sometimes the arts gods giveth; sometimes they taketh away. Case in point: the news that The Sarasota Ballet will be offering upcoming outdoor performances, with live audiences, juxtaposed with the announcement that La Musical International Chamber Music Festival has had to cancel its 35^th season, due to Covid-19.

The first update is obviously welcome, as the ballet has not been able to perform before live dance fans since last winter/spring. The company has had success with a digital season thus far in 2020-2021, but it’s a step in the right direction—so to speak—for everyone that it will be able to present two programs of outdoor performances over the next few months. Both will take place on the Asolo Rep’s Terrace Stage, where the theater company has presented live outdoor shows since December.

Terrace Program 1 (March 5-7 at 6 p.m.) will feature The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company and trainees of the Margaret Barbieri Conservatory in a revival of resident choreographer Ricardo Graziano’s original work, Feira de Castro. Additional planned works include excerpts from Coppelia and Swan Lake, with more to be announced. Terrace Program 2 (April 29-May 1 at 6 p.m.) will present ballets choreographed by women of The Sarasota Ballet and The Sarasota Ballet Studio Company, performed by The Sarasota Ballet and Studio Company, with more details to come later. Even better: Tickets will be available at a reduced rate of $20 to allow as many people as possible to enjoy the return of the ballet. Terrace Program 1 tickets may now be purchased at sarasotaballet.org.

As far as La Musica, the coronavirus pandemic has brought more unfortunate results. The annual chamber music festival’s 2021 season has been canceled, a necessity because many of its musicians are unable to travel internationally now. This is the second full season La Musica has had to cancel due to the pandemic.

Patrons who hold ticket credits can apply the credit toward the 2022 season, request a refund, or donate the funds to La Musica. Details are available at lamusicafestival.org.

La Musica’s “At Home” documentary series, exploring the lives, musical passions and performances of its musicians, continues, with the third in the series, featuring pianist Steven Lin, being released earlier this month. Upcoming documentaries will feature area residents Dick Hyman and Ann Hobson Pilot; the former a jazz master pianist and the latter a former principal harpist of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. The docs are free to view at La Musica’s YouTube channel, Facebook page and website.