When will there be decent classical music recordings?

Actually, I wouldn't overrate the engineers, it's the producers who have the most say in the final mix, along with the artists.  I would rate most Harmonia Mundi recordings, particularly those produced by Robina Young, as among the best I have heard on a consistent basis.  Take any recording of Nicholas McGegan and the Philharmonia Baroque, for example, those might satisfy your craving for both musical values and recordings with texture to the instruments (they're a small enough ensemble for that to work, I think).  That they had Peter McGrath and Tony Faulkner as recording engineers was a plus as well.  Also, Craig Dory's recordings of the Baltimore Consort on Dorian also might be worth your time.  Finally, as a rule I have felt Decca recordings, particularly where the recording engineer was Kenneth Wilkinson, seem to strike a reasonable balance between a broad picture of the orchestra and adding a little presence through some spot miking.

Hi been audiogoner for about 6years first recap i know exactly what you mean if want excellent classical recording it's called great Russian classics includes tchaikovskys1812 overtures my best clasicals cd knock your socks off let me know. Jeff 

A hearty seconding of rcprince's recommendation of the Harmonia Mundi label recordings. Great sound, great repertoire, great artists and performances. My favorite contemporary Classical label, by far.

@rcprince.
Very interesting and accurate comments on mic'ing techniques. And thanks for sharing your mixing experience.

As for Karajan, look how many of his DG recordings were later remixed and remastered due to his insistence on overseeing the engineering process.

I far prefer a slightly more distant perspective so I can hear the blend of voices and instruments called for by the composer.

Well said; that is my preference as well. I attend the symphony each season and enjoy a mid-hall sound experience.

Let me respectfully disagree re. Herbert von Karajan legacy, his Beethoven and Bruckner cycles will outlive all of us and our great-grandkids! Just because he embraced digital and DG used skewed RIAA does not make him inherently Evil! True, his Tchaikovsky sounds wrong to the slavic ears, but how could he (or anyone) present the 4th the "right way" if he'd never been immersed into "the birch in the meadow" Russian folk song playing nonstop from almost everywhere?!? 
True, unlike Bernstein he did not waste his life on interpreting Mahler, he (or anyone outside Mama Russia) had never had a chance to present Tchaikovsky the way Mravinsky did, so what?!?!  I still choose Monteaux for the simple beauty of the music, without those extras of "Russian Soul" anguish.
Let me clarify, Karajan is Not my all-time favorite (I dont have any) but to dismiss him as lifeless and digital Evil seems absolutely wrong to my slavic ears...
@tatyana69 check "music in the round" column of Stereophile mag, I cannot afford decent surround but if I could I would have started there. Love your point that given a chance more composers would have used surround-sound effects. Stockhausen with his three orchestras comes to mind but, again, where are the recordings, and where is my surround B&W 800-series speakers :-(   Until then I am going old-school