JEAN CLAUDE WAS BORN JEAN CLAUDE COSTE IN NARBONNE, SOUTH-WEST FRANCE IN 1944. HIS FATHER, A PILOT IN THE FRENCH AIR FORCE, TRAVELLED FROM ONE AIR BASE TO ANOTHER, SO THE YOUNG JEAN CLAUDE SPENT MUCH OF HIS EARLY YEARS IN THE CARE OF HIS GRANDMOTHER IN AIX- EN-PROVENCE. A HIGHLY OBSERVANT ONLY CHILD, IT WAS UNDER HER INSTRUCTION THAT HE WAS FIRST EXPOSED TO THE CLASSICAL ARTS OF OPERA AND THEATRE THAT WERE TO PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN HIS EARLY AESTHETIC AND SOCIAL EDUCATION.