Swiss National Sound Archives, Sound archive in Lugano, Switzerland
The Swiss National Sound Archives in Lugano holds over 500,000 audio recordings documenting musical performances, radio broadcasts, and spoken word pieces from Switzerland. The collection is stored digitally and accessible through a searchable database for research and personal use.
The idea of a Swiss sound archive was raised in 1972 by Robert Wyler and again in 1976 by Hans-Rudolf Dürrenmatt; the 1975 Clottu Report recommended it. An association founded in 1984 built the archive in Lugano's former radio studio, and in 1987 it became a private-law foundation. It moved to the Centro San Carlo in 2001 and joined the Swiss National Library on 1 January 2016.
The archives collect recordings of works by Swiss composers and authors, performances by Swiss musicians, and releases from Swiss labels, including historical radio broadcasts from 1932 to about 1955. Visitors can listen at roughly 50 audiovisual stations in Switzerland and Italy, or search the FN-Base32 database online.
The collection is accessible through a searchable database for researchers and visitors interested in exploring audio materials for personal or professional purposes. You can visit listening stations on-site or inquire about access options for the digital content.
Between 20,000 and 25,000 new audio documents are added to the collection annually, many through voluntary contributions from publishers and artists throughout Switzerland. This constant growth makes the archives an active project that continues to capture contemporary voices and music.
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