Arriaga’s three string quartets fit nicely on to a single CD—except that they haven’t. Only the Chilingirian Quartet, on CRD 33123, plays all the repeats; it takes 88 minutes, requiring a second CD. The lack of repeats is especially damaging in the Andante of the Second, A-Major Quartet, with a theme and variations; it seems empty without its full score. Those repeats account for about four minutes, as do repeats in each opening movement of the Second and Third Quartets (although the length of a CD was not an issue for these 1954 broadcast performances, which may have been subject to radio time slots). The Chilingirian’s comparatively slow tempos account for about six minutes, so the full Arriaga Quartets could very well fit on a single disc in this era of 85-minute CDs.The Aeolian String Quartet was founded (under a different name) in 1926. These recordings were made 28 years later, in 1954; violist Watson Forbes and cellist John Moore had been with the ensemble for decades—Moore from the start—but violinists Sydney Humphreys and Trevor Williams were recent additions. Although the monaural sound is rather dry, the four instrumentalists are strong individuals, so their lines are more distinct than in several stereo recordings; second violin and viola are always heard. While the Aeolian lacks the precision, elegance, and faultless intonation of many of today’s string quartets, it plays with a strong emotional character that will appeal to many. The Adagio con espressione of the D-Minor First Quartet, hesitant at first, is eventually devastating, but the Aeolian lacks the Chilingirian’s feather touch in the Allegretto finale. In the opening Allegro of the Third Quartet, the E♭, some may prefer the subtlety of the Chilingirian, some the vibrancy of the Aeolian. Like other masterpieces, Arriaga’s quartets thrive in many interpretations.Recommendation? Every disc of Arriaga quartets is a treasure.