The conductor Franz Welser-Möst today resigned from his position as General Music Director of the Vienna State Opera, his agents have confirmed. He had been scheduled to conduct 34 performances in the 2014/15 season, including Strauss's Elektra and Verdi's Rigoletto and La traviata. His letter of resignation to Director Dominique Meyer cited 'differences over the artistic direction of the house.' Welser-Möst will explain his decision later today on Austrian television.

Welser-Möst is currently also the Music Director of the Cleveland Orchestra. He won a Gramophone Award in 1996 for his recording of Schmidt's Symphony No 4 with the LPO.