Coste, Napoleon

Napoléon Coste (1805-1883) was born in Amondans, near Besançon, France. He was first taught the guitar by his mother, an accomplished player. As a teenager he became a teacher of the instrument. In 1829, at the age of 24, he moved to Paris where he studied under Fernando Sor and quickly established himself as the leading French virtuoso guitarist. Napoleon Coste was influenced by the Early Classical-Romantic composers of the time including Hector Berlioz and Ludwig van Beethoven.