Antonin Trantoul (Tenor) (Toulouse 1887 - Marseille 1966)

After initial education at the Toulouse Conservatory he studied with the famous tenor Jean de Reszke in Paris.  He made his stage deubt in 1911 at the opera house of Nimes as Des Grieux in Massenet's Manon - the beginning of a big career.  From 1920-24 he was at the Opera-Comique in Paris and from 1923-35 was also at the Grand Opera.  His roles were the title character in Gounod's Faust, the Duke in Rigoletto, title characters in Lohengrin and Don Carlos, Manrico in Il Trovatore and the title character in Pizzetti's Fra Gherardo (he had sung the world premiere at La Scala on May 16, 1928).  He also participated in the world premieres of Charles-Marie Widor's Nerto (1924), and, at the Opera-Comique, Henri Busser's Les noces corinthiennes (May 10, 1922).  He switch into the heroic roles of his fach [at this time].  Toscanini was fond of his voice and summoned him to La Scala, where he appeared until 1931.  In 1926 he had the high point of his career when he sang the title role in Don carlo, and in 1927 he sang in Otello.  He sang in Boito's Nerone and made several guest appearances (around Italy) in this role.  In the 1929-30 season he sang at the Metropolitan Opera and at the Teatro Colon in Buenos Aires.  He gave up his stage career in 1935 and stayed in Marseille as a teacher.

Chronology of some appearances

1920 Madrid  Teatro Reale Madama Butterfly (Pinkerton)
1926 Milano  Teatro La Scala Carmen (Don Jose)
1926  Buenos Ayres  Teatro Colon Carmen (Don Jose)
1926 Firenze  Politeama Fiorentino Carmen (Don Jose)
1927 Parma Teatro Regio Carmen (Don Jose)
1927 Milano  Teatro La Scala Carmen (Don Jose)
1927 Milano  Teatro La Scala Otello (Otello)
1927  Bergamo  Teatro Donizetti Carmen (Don Jose)
1928 Bologna  Teatro Comunale Carmen (Don Jose)
1928 Napoli  Teatro San Carlo Otello (Otello)
1928  Milano  Teatro La Scala Otello (Otello)
1929  Milano  Teatro La Scala Carmen (Don Jose)
1929 Roma  Teatro dell'Opera Carmen (Don Jose)
1929 Torino  Teatro Regio Carmen (Don Jose)
1931 Milano  Teatro La Scala Norma (Pollione)

RECORDING FOR SALE

 

Private Record
Tosca (Puccini): Le ciel luisait d'etoiles