19th-Century Culture and Arts Practice Test

A secondary source excerpt on 19th-century European opera notes that Romantic composers expanded orchestras, used recurring musical themes to represent ideas or characters, and sought “total works of art” that fused music, drama, and stagecraft; the excerpt highlights the rise of grand national myths and medieval sagas onstage. Which composer is most closely associated with this description?

A lecture on 19th-century architecture notes that many Europeans built new parliament buildings, churches, and universities in Neo-Gothic styles, claiming that pointed arches and medieval forms expressed moral seriousness and a “true” national heritage; the lecturer contrasts this with earlier Neoclassical buildings inspired by Greece and Rome. Which interpretation best explains the Neo-Gothic revival’s appeal?