This disc is described as Otello highlights, but more accurately it's Desdemona's entire part from this performance. No "Exultate", "Si, pel ciel", Niun mi tema", etc. A Rysanek fan sounds like they recorded this from the audience as one occasionally hears chatter, grunts, coughs, etc. The sound is listenable, the static Andy describes above not too disturbing. There are some skips in track 2, probably from the original source.Rysanek certainly gives a performance and I don't mean that pejoratively. Her singing is passionate in the extreme. She is predictably terrific in the more dramatic moments. Her plea to Otello in the third act is heart-breaking, her Willow Song almost frightening in its intensity. Of course she doesn't go quietly into the night and screams several times in the murder scene (modern Desdemonas are loathe to give us even the written one!). She is in good voice though she tends to sing sharp (the final A-flat of the Ave Maria is nearly an A!)McCracken is McCracken: you either like his intense, sweaty interpretation of the title role or you don't. He is in very good voice, making it easily to the top C on "vil cortigiana". Pity we don't get to hear his death scene. The other singers are fine, but are largely superfluous in this selection. Santi assists Rysanek all he can.If you're a Rysanek fan, you'll want this. If you have her studio recording or a copy of the Met broadcast from earlier in the year (also with McCracken), you can let this go.