Alphabet associations - I

[Norfolk Born]

Good morning, folks!
What U links: a 1959 Oscar winner, UNICEF's first ambassador-at-large, and two characters in a Frederick Ashton ballet?

[amateur51]

Good morning, folks!
What U links: a 1959 Oscar winner, UNICEF's first ambassador-at-large, and two characters in a Frederick Ashton ballet?

That was Danny Kaye, who was born to Ukrainian parents - am I close?

[Norfolk Born]

Danny Kaye does indeed crop up as you make your way towards the solution, but it's not his parents' nationality that provides the link. All three elements to the question involve music (albeit not always classical).

[amateur51]

Good morning, folks!
What U links: a 1959 Oscar winner, UNICEF's first ambassador-at-large, and two characters in a Frederick Ashton ballet?

I think Danny Kaye recorded The Ugly Duckling and Ashton's ballet included the two ugly sisters?

[Norfolk Born]

You're nearly there ...just the Oscar winner to go!

[amateur51]

You're nearly there ...just the Oscar winner to go!

Burl Ives won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar in 1959 for The Big Country. He also recoded The Ugly Bug Ball

[Nick Armstrong]

Burl Ives won the Best Actor in a Supporting Role Oscar in 1959 for The Big Country. He also recoded The Ugly Bug Ball

That's as may be but in the meantime your PM box is full, trying to get some Wodehousiana into it but been denied access

[amateur51]

That's as may be but in the meantime your PM box is full, trying to get some Wodehousiana into it but been denied access

A thousand pardons, my box is now liberated

[vinteuil]

... He also recoded The Ugly Bug Ball

... what a difference an R makes

[amateur51]

... what a difference an R makes

Bless you vints - that was the version made by Alan Turing and his City Slickers, of course - what a hoot!

[Norfolk Born]

Well done, amateur51. Over to you for 'V'.

[amateur51]

A V to connect:

Presteigne

John Metcalf

The Kronos Quartet

The solution and all the clues are musical

[mercia]

Vasks?
Vale (of Glamorgan)?

[amateur51]

Vasks?
Vale (of Glamorgan)?

Ooooh mercia! You are on fire! Care to elaborate?

[mercia]

You are on fire!

I know - it's the weather
erm, well, Peteris Vasks's 4th & 5th String Quartets were written for Kronos, he is/has been composer-in-residence for the Presteigne and Vale of Glamorgan Festivals. John Metcalf is the Artistic Director of the V of G Festival but I can't seem to find any other particular links between Kronos & Vale of Glamorgan. Is the answer Vale or Vasks?