From the moment that CultureMap broke the story on Wednesday of Anthony Freud's departure from his post as Houston Grand Opera general director and CEO and that a successor could be named soon, speculation as to who has been churning across the opera world landscape. The name that keeps rising to the top is that of Houston Grand Opera music director Patrick Summers.

Several HGO insiders have suggested that Summers is the front runner for a top position with the company. Management would be restructured, they say, as a triumvirate that would include COO Perryn Leech and chief advancement officer Greg Robertson. In this scenario, Summers would have the title of artistic director, which would allow him to continue conducting, though less frequently.

However, Summers says, "It is very premature to call me the front-runner in this process. Certainly, I am part of the process in finding out what is the next step for Houston Grand Opera . . . But certainly, it is not true now."

Freud will join the Lyric Opera of Chicago as general director in October. A quick decision by the HGO board would eliminate any leadership lag time. An announcement is expected next week.

Should HGO promote from within, without an outside search, the approach would differ markedly from that of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, and the Houston Symphony, both of which plan to conduct extensive searches for the top job at each institution.

In an April 16 e-mail to board members, Summers thanked them for putting their "confidence" in him. That e-mail, says Summers, was referring to the board's confidence in including him in the process of helping the opera company move forward.

An integral part of HGO's development for more than a decade, Summers, who also serves as principal guest conductor of the San Francisco Opera, is nationally and internationally recognized. In addition to conducting frequently at the Metropolitan Opera in New York, he is a seasoned symphonic conductor who recently led an eight-city United States tour with the Russian National Orchestra and a variety of European orchestras including that of Amsterdam's Royal Concertgebouw, London's Royal Festival Hall and Paris' Théâtre des Champs-Élysées.

Among Summers' numerous credits are conducting the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the National Symphony and the Boston Symphony Orchestra in concerts with soprano Renée Fleming.

As the Opus 3 Artists biography of Summers states, "Amongst singers, he is equally well known as tutor, mentor and friend; and leading singers frequently seek him out to conduct their premiere productions in signature roles. Such artists as Patricia Racette created her first Cio-Cio San and Tosca at HGO; Anna Netrebko her first Puritani for the Met; and Renée Fleming’s first Violetta, also at HGO."

While Summers has little management or business experience, his is certainly a name that is familiar to the opera world both at home and beyond.