High expectations when listening to an orchestra

Not all the time, I have heard exceptions.
I had an experience when I went to a Beethoven IX. The performance was very disappointing, so I spent the entire time in critical mode listening, to auditory details that we do when listening to gear critically. After the performance I went home by the straightest route and put on immediately Ferencsik's performance of Beethoven IX on my setup.
Ferencsik bettered the live experience by quite a bit. I was surprised to get similar dynamics, detail level, freq extension, imaging - you name it. Plus, a MUCH BETTER conducting and interpretation.
I think that's the point of recorded music, to take you where the present might not.But do not expect that to happen all the time, that was a rare event.
Happy time travels;

You need a large listening room and a large big baffled speaker to reproduce an orchestra in the home and if you can find a suitable ampliier to drive that combination you can get very close to live sound in a room but i am talking 12 to 16 cubic foot large speakers.

There’s no way you can come close to that experience  with your equipment.

Diapers! Er, what I mean is, depends. One time way up high in a back balcony at Benaroya Hall I was struck by how much this sounded like my system at home. Violin sounded virtually the same. Put it this way, more difference between different recordings than what I was hearing here live vs at home. This was 20 years ago. 

Another time, sitting a lot closer more like center floor 10-15 rows back, that I could not do. Not then. Now? Different story. So nowhere near easy, but you can come awfully close. Come and listen. You will see.

Of course, there aren’t 60 musicians in your room. Your equipment and mind will provide you with the necessary illusion. Still awesome to hear the reproduction. 

I just listened to La Mer from Debussy directed by Solti w/CSO on original London FFRR. While not like being in the concert hall, played with my newly acquired PBN Montana XPS speakers, the instruments were placed all over the front wall with fantastic separation. That's plenty good enough for me. This record grows on me at each listen, superb experience.