I like to sound in a better acoustic auditorium, more friendly to the choir, where they can sing comfortably. But there're always challenge spaces where choir have to adapt. Most of the sound rental company don't know how to handle choir, as their major business is pop music with close up mics, and the result is always disaster.
Your 2 links are excellent, good choir, good space, good recording. The only thing I would like to do, if at all possible, not to use high stand, but find a way to fly the mics. (The thing I don't know is the safety code regulated by the authorities regarding rigging.)
In Taiwan, cathedral is rare. This is one of the tallest. The choir doesn't need any amplification, nor the orchestra. Only soloist and narrators. 8 mics rig is suspended where they are pointing to all direction that can be used for final mix. Spot mics is also everywhere, and total channel count is 38.
This event was live broadcast at the Christmas eve. So video is certainly an important role, I also coordinate video as well, and I don't like my mics blocking my picture, I don't want to sacrifice either.
Grace Baptist Church, Christmas Eve 2019Oh, I have performed and recorded in situations like this all too often. It's extremely frustrating when you can't hear yourself or the rest of the ensemble. Your solution sounds like it was the best scenario given the space you were working in. I listened again to your Only in Sleep example, and the monitors come through slightly in a good way to my ears that adds a slight sense of reverb.
Regarding the Trinity College Choir video I linked: I would personally never use that mic placement, but I am fairly sure it was done for video purposes. My go-to in this situation is a much higher / more distant single pair, and I prefer to move the soloist to a place with proper balance than to add spot mics if that is possible.
It's not the same piece, but it is by Esenvalds using tuned glasses. This balance I really like, and the recordist is a respected member of the Gearslutz Remote Possibilities forum. You can see what looks like a Sennheiser MKH mid-side array right in front of the conductor; but I cannot quite make out what the high placed mics are. Check out the other videos on the channel - they are quite excellent.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GQ2pBNqiUMM
This one is even better balanced, and I am fairly sure it is just the single high array of mics being used:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rtq9TPnb6kc