One family, two art forms: Maestro James Conlon and grand nephew Sebastian talk opera and soccer

For a few brief months earlier this year two Conlons graced the stages of L.A.’s two great arts and entertainment institutions: the LA Opera and the LA Galaxy.

“It’s so funny to see that, as I come in you’re leaving,” said Sebastian Conlon to his great-uncle James Conlon on a conference call set up by LAist last week.

Sebastian was drafted last year by the LA Galaxy from the University of Kentucky and moved to the LA area in January. Three months later, in April, his great-uncle James Conlon waved his baton for the last time as music director of the LA Opera, a post he’d held for 20 years.

“Since [Sebastian has] been here, we’ve tried to see each other, tried to have him come over to the house,” James Conlon said.

“I wanted to get to a game. He wanted to get to an opera. None of it ever happened because he’s so busy and I’ve been so busy, as always,” he said.

And now the elder Conlon has put many of his belongings in storage and is moving to New York, although he intends to keep a connection to L.A.

The conversation had equal parts family reunion across generations and a heartfelt discussion that led both Conlons to find common ground in what may be seen as wildly disparate professions.

United in passion

Sebastian grew up hearing stories from his grandfather of James Conlon’s conducting in Italy, Germany, Chicago, and L.A.

“My grandfather is Uncle Jimmy’s brother,” Sebastian said.

“Yes, my family calls me Jimmy,” James acknowledged. “And they’re not only allowed to, they’re supposed to.”

“I actually hated being called Jimmy when I was a kid, but I couldn’t do anything about it… when I finally grew to a certain age I became professionally known as James,” he said.

Sebastian grew up in the Washington D.C. area and rose through the ranks of college soccer, finally arriving in L.A. as a goalkeeper. He’s in his early 20s. His uncle James Conlon, who grew up in New York, is in his mid-70s.

As they chatted, they realized there were several things they had in common. They’d both been very focused on their current professions from an early age and were united through the passion for what they do. Both carry out their work in full public display.

“We’re on a stage doing something that is connecting with other people. And you, Sebastian, are in a highly popular art form,” James said.

Sebastian agreed with the description. “There’s nothing that tops the feeling of being on a field, on a seven o’clock game, and you have 4,000 or 5,000 fans screaming your name and chanting,” he said.

“I think that’s one way to put us together: it’s just that love for what we do and sharing that love to other people.”

Ironically, both have felt soccer fans’ passion first-hand.

“I was conducting in Paris in the opera the night that France won the World Cup [in 1998],” James said. “I could remember the screaming from outside the theater was so loud that we knew that France had won. I mean, that’s a night I’d never forget.”

L.A. advice

The intensity of practice for the Galaxy, L.A.’s most successful Major League Soccer team, has not allowed Sebastian to see much of L.A. since he got here. When he asked his great-uncle for recommendations for places to eat, James suggested the city’s Italian restaurants, which, he said, reminded him of his Italian grandmother.

But he encouraged him to roam and experience all the city has to offer.

“The kind of energy that I found in L.A. is a similar energy to what I found in my native city, New York, but also cities I have lived in or spent time in, like Paris, London, Madrid and Rome,” James said.

“I don’t think you’ll ever be bored here, Sebastian, never. I mean, 20 years, I wasn’t bored for one minute. Loved it all,” he said.

Both Conlons agreed to finally make an IRL meeting happen as the elder Conlon steps into the next stage in his professional classical music career, and the younger Conlon carries out his work on the MLS team.

Sebastian will now also have the responsibility of holding up the family name in L.A. as his great-uncle has done for two decades.