Glare on Choral recordings, classical vocals

More thoughts on causes of glare: Could be due to an imperfect crossover configuration. I remember reading a review of a speaker (can't remember which one) where the author stated the crossover points were at 200 hz and 2000 hz. He stated these were close to ideal as they did not affect the vocal range. An improperly designed crossover (crossover point within the vocal range) can have different drivers producing the same frequency causing IM distortion. Check your speaker's specs.

Another consideration is the composition itself. Composers like to "reinforce" the vocals with instruments of similar timbre (e.g. violins).
This could give the impression of glare when it might just be poor composition or the inability of the speaker to precisely delineate the two sources.

"I've noticed that audiophiles and reviewers seldom write about choral music. Is it because they don't like choral music, or is it because it is just really difficult to record choirs well, therefore making choral music a poor choice to show off a system?"

I've noticed that too Paul and I personally believe that it is often for the reason you note above and others in their responses. I too love choral music and have focused my attention, along with large scale orchestral music around my system in making this type of music as natural and realistic as possible.Agree with Rcprince's observation about vocals, particularly lyric soprano voice can often come through with glare and IMO is about the hardest instrument to sound completely natural through an audio system. I too notice that vinyl recordings seem a bit more forgiving than do digital. I think your remedy could be some or many of the excellent recommendations given above along with seeking out quality recordings. I find close miked recordings of vocals seem more problematic.  Getting it right with this type of music has been in my experience "a long road" but your 20 year old impressions concerning a Conrad Johnson preamp certainly is a good choice for this type of music IME. 

Agree with Rcprince on the Telarc/Shaw recordings, less notable glare and more of a mid-hall presentation which is ok by me if the recording is rendered more listenable. It seems the biggest problem is the transducers themselves, microphones and speakers at least that is my suspicion.  On a final note most of the audiophiles I know don't particularly care for choral music with a few exceptions. I would think that anyone that would commit to purchasing a very expensive pair of loudspeakers would be really committed to attempt recreating large scale music and voice as realistically as possible or what's the point, listening to Rebecca Pidgeon singing "Spanish Harlem" as realistically as possible?

Much of Choral Music is religious music of a high level by some of the greatest  composers who ever lived . The amount  of Americans who appreciate music at that level is small .
Here in Minnesota there is a great audience for choral music because it is heavily Lutheran and Lutheran churches here have good choirs and folks
grow up listening to it . Luther said"A prayer sung is a prayer said twice" and Lutherans believe that .
I talked to the director of one of the Great English Boy Choirs from Oxford 
who said they always look forward to singing in St. Paul because it is the only stop on their tours where the audience has a true passion for the music .

Wait, what speakers do you have?  There are plenty of speakers that just sound great with small ensembles but sound horrible with large scale works at any volume.  Time to upgrade speakers?

That's true rotarius , but today mostly single-driver ones .
Nearly any speaker from a grand on up is up to the job, 9 times out of ten 
its something else in the system .