Although as a composer he is known chiefly for his light works, as a conductor he presented a wide range of operas, from Mozart to Richard Strauss, and he acquired a reputation as a conductor of Wagner.
Selvom han som komponist hovedsageligt er kendt for sine lette værker, præsenterede han som dirigent en bred vifte af operaer, fra Mozart til Richard Strauss, og han fik et godt ry som dirigent af Wagner.