His style resembled none other.

Fetis, his great admirer and friend and the famous director of the Conservatoire at Brussels, insisted, and with reason, on this distinction.

His style was characterized by the importance of the rhythmic element.

His ballet music owes much of its excellence to the picturesque variety of the rhythms.
Instead of the long involved overture he gave us the short distinctive prelude which has been so successful.

The preludes of _Robert_ and _Les Huguenots_ were followed by the preludes of _Lohengrin_, _Faust_, _Tristan_, _Romeo_, _La Traviata_, _Aida_, and many others which are less famous.