The conductor Franz Welser-Möst yesterday 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 Rigolettoand 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.