Cross Of Merit.

[CtahhR]

Awarded to Kazimierz Skrzypkowski on 18th April 1956 "For Merits in the field of art and theatre and professional work are decorated the following artists and employees or the State Opera in Warsaw." #51 of 80.

Additional research exposes that Kazimierz Skrzypkowski was born on 4th March 1894 and died on 13th December 1963. He was buried at the Powązki Cemetery along the Avenue Of The Meritorious (1st Row, Plot 30) where his grave reads "Ballet Soloist Warsaw Opera". He performed in Finland and Imperial Russia before settling at the State Opera in Warsaw in 1920.

His post-war credits include;

Sprzedana Narzeczona (Battered Bride) by Smetana Bedrzich premièring 7th December 1947

Pan Twardowski by Ludomir Różycki premièring 16th February 1951
Roles; One of the "Creditors" Act 1 Scene 1
Head Of The Troop Act 2 Scene 2
Oberek Dancer Act 3 Scene 1
Member Of Folk Group Act 3 Scene 2

Harnasie by Karol Szymanowski premièring 19th December 1951
Roles; Scene 2 Father Of The Bride

Coppelia by Léo Delibes premièring 9th September 1953
Roles; The Apothecary

Till Eulenspiegel by Richard Strauss premièring 9th September 1953
Roles; The Judge

Spanish Suite by Enrique Granados Y Campina premièring 9th September 1953
Roles; A Partisan

Romeo And Juliet by Sergej Prokofiev premièring 22nd April 1954

Swan Lake by Petr Chajkovskij premièring 14th April 1956
Role; Member Of The Entourage Of The Princess

Pan Twardowski by Ludomir Różycki premièring 19th January 1957
(Same roles as before)

Evening Ballet (A collection of pieces) premièring 8th March 1958
Roles; Eunuch (Part 1 Prélude À L'Après-Midi D'Un Faune by Claude Debussy)
Juggler (Part 2 Petrushka by Igor Stravinskij)

Pan Twardowski by Ludomir Różycki premièring 5th March 1959
Famulus (Scene 1)
Roles; Master Of Ceremonies (Scene 4)
Famulus (Scene 10)

Swan Lake by Petr Chajkovskij premièring 12th January 1961
Roles; Master Of Ceremonies

Tale Of The Stone Flower by Sergej Prokofiev premièring 15th October 1961


I have contacted the Nation Opera of Poland to see if they have any pictures of him in action.

[CtahhR]

Seek and ye shall find! The archivist at the National Opera was rather helpful and provided this picture from Romeo And Juliet (The last Opera he did before his award).

He is portraying Lord Capulet (Juliet's father - as if no-one has Shakespeare forced into them at school) with Sabina Szatkowska as Lady Capulet and Olga Sawicka as Juliet.

Edward Hartwig was the photographer.

[CtahhR]

Here is a Silver Cross with the maker's mark "KW".

[Al-muell]

Here are two documents for Cross of merit for comparison - bronze 1946, silver 1959.
Both to artillery sgt. Jerzy Skwara. I have probably found a decree for the first one, but it's a hard one.

Note the differences, esp. on the cover.

[CtahhR]

Only took a year!

"For heroic deeds and brave behavior in the fight against the German invaders and for zealous work and conscientious fulfillment of duties"

Monitor Polski 1947 #29 Article 261

#91 Artillery Sergeant Skwara Jerzy