His earliest experiments followed the examples set by Weber (Die Feen) and Meyerbeer (Rienzi), but his most important formative influence was probably the symphonic music of Beethoven.
Hans tidligste eksperimenter fulgte de eksempler, som Weber (Die Feen) og Meyerbeer (Rienzi) satte, men den vigtigste indflydelse var sandsynligvis Beethovens symfoniske musik.