In 1826, he succeeded his father as the principal tenor at the Paris Opéra.

Rising to the status of principal tenor, he worked first at Graz before returning to Vienna.

In 1837, he became principal tenor at Dresden, a major music centre, where he remained until 1870.

After army service he became a member of the Stuttgart opera company, and succeeded his father as principal tenor.

In 1962 he became principal tenor at the Paris Opera.

He continued as principal tenor in Toulon until 1948 when he suffered a stroke which left him paralyzed.

Friant became a principal tenor of the Opéra comique from 1920-1939.

Starting in 1963, he became one of the Met's principal dramatic tenors.

He was Australia's principal tenor during the 1950s and later enjoyed a highly successful career in France.

He was the principal tenor at the Finnish National Opera from 1990 to 2006.