While in Vienna, he became particularly interested in the music of Anton Bruckner whom, for a time, he regarded as "the greatest living composer", although he continued to show interest in the established works of Beethoven and Wagner.
I Wien blev han særlig interesseret i kompositioner af Anton Bruckner, som han for en tid betragtede som "den største levende komponist", selv om han fortsat viste interesse for de anerkendte værker af Beethoven og Wagner.