Altube was born on July 10th, 1898 at Aretxabaleta and died in Madrid on May 16th, 1951. He started working in the famous lock
factory Unión Cerrajera de Mondragón. During his military service, his vocal abilities were discovered. In
1921, Altube started his vocal studies at the Real Conservatorio in Madrid. His teacher was the baritone Ignacio Tabuyo. Altube
went to Milano for further studies. There, he met the Wagnerian tenor Grani who guided him.
Altube made his debut at the Royal Opera House in Malta in Samson et Dalila, immediately followed by Die Walküre
and Aida. This resulted in contracts with several Italian opera houses, starting with the Teatro Rossi in Milano, where
he sang Ernani. In 1935, Altube sang at the Petruzzelli at Bari in Aida, Carmen, and La forza del destino.
At the Liceu in Barcelona, Altube sang his greatest role Otello, and in the opera Amaya by Guridi. In 1939, Altube sang
in Aida at the Teatro Arriaga in Bilbao. Altube sang all over the world, particularly in Milano, Roma, Brazil, Mexico,
Lisboa, Berlin, Wien, etc.
In 1945, Altube alternated between singing and teaching at the Conservatorio Real. In 1951, Altube died suddenly from angina. His
last appearance was in Tosca at the Teatro Principal in Palma de Mallorca.
His voice is reported to have been brilliant and powerful, a true tenore di forza. No recording is known. The tenor Barrosa, a friend of Altube, reported that a German company offered him to record
several arias.
