Live is the real thing, warts and all. I remember sitting in the balcony at Heinz hall in Pittsburgh and the acoustics were so bad I told my wife I'd rather be home listening to my stereo. First floor row H that's different. But I find the sound of a live symphony is more diffused with less pinpoint imaging than you can get with a recording sometimes, but that's less "real" in one sense.
Is there anything better than live recordings?
Other than attending the concerts themselves?
I say NO.
👍