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Franz Welser-Moest quits as Vienna State Opera music chief, citing differences with director

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FILE - The Jan 1, 2013 file photo shows Austrian maestro Franz Welser-Moest conducting the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra during the traditional New Year\'s concert at the Golden Hall of the Musikverein in Vienna, Austria. Welser-Moest is quitting as music director of the Vienna State Opera with immediate effect, citing “differences” with opera director Dominique Meyer. Moest also says he will not conduct or participate in any of this year’s productions, leaving one of the world’s premier operas scrambling for replacements. In a letter made public Friday, Sept. 5, 2014 Moest said that “differences over artistic issues were not solvable in several meetings.” (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, file)

VIENNA – Franz Welser-Moest is quitting as music director of the Vienna State Opera, citing differences with opera director Dominique Meyer.

Welser-Moest says his resignation is immediate and he will not conduct or participate in any of this year’s 34 productions, leaving one of the world’s premier opera houses scrambling for a replacement. His contract was to run until 2018.

In a letter made public Friday, Welser-Moest says that “differences over artistic issues were not solvable in several meetings.”

Meyer, in a statement, called Welser-Moest’s resignation “a great loss.”

Welser-Moest is also the music director for the Cleveland Orchestra.

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