14 September 1898, Verdello – 22 January 1981, Bergamo
Italian musicologist, studied composition at the musical high school in Turin. He worked as a music critic for the daily "Corriere della Sera" for thirty-nine years (1934-1973) and edited his own magazine "La Scala" (1949-1963). He published comprehensive "History of music" and study on G.Verdi. The award Premio Franco Abbiati della critica musicale italiana is named after him.