Mainly self-taught, Borthayre began his career singing as a soloist in a Basque choir, touring Europe.
In about 1936, he began studying voice with his wife Marie-Louise, daughter of bass Louis Azéma.
[1] After the war, he began appearing at various opera houses throughout France, Bordeaux, Marseille, Strasbourg, etc.
He made his debut at both the Paris Opéra and the Opéra-Comique in 1951, as Valentin in Faust, and Zurga in Les pêcheurs de perles, respectively.
He also enjoyed considerable success in Verdi roles, such as Rigoletto, Germont, Renato, etc., which in his days were mainly sung in the national language in France.