1995 recording

Carl Armand Mangold (1813-1889) was apparently considered an important composer of operas and oratorios in his day, but is currently not even a name to most music enthusiasts. The oratorio Abraham rushes through Abraham's life in 100 minutes, and Mangold was apparently intent on keeping more or less everything in there, which means that there is little time for reflection and long developments. It does however contain some impressive choral writing, with the fugue writing for double chorus for the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, a highlight. Gilles Cachemaille makes impressive use of the material in the title role, documentation is fortunately good, and with the advocacy it receives here the curious can proceed with some confidence.