Il lascito di Roberto Leydi: un archivio emigrato

In this interview, Andrea a Marca, curator of the Roberto Leydi archive at the Centro di Dialettologia e di Etnografia in Bellinzona, discusses the history and significance of this vast ethnomusicological collection. The archive, which arrived in Switzerland in 2002, includes 1,500 audio reels, 650 musical instruments, and an extensive library. Its transfer was driven by Leydi’s strong professional ties with Swiss institutions, particularly RSI Radio, and the availability of preservation funding. The interview also explores the division of Leydi’s materials between Bellinzona, Milan, and Basel, highlighting challenges in maintaining archival cohesion and accessibility for researchers.