Émile Zola’s novel “Thérèse Raquin” tells the story of a violent crime, of madness, and of self-destruction. Philipp Maintz chose the subject of the husbandmurdering heroine for his second stage work “Thérèse”. The chamber opera calls for two female and two male singers as well as 11 instrumentalists. The libretto by Otto Katzameier narrates the action in an unusual, almost cinematic manner, for which Philipp Maintz composed an animated, highly effective music that appeals to the listener on a very immediate level. The work was premiered on 14 April 2019 at the Salzburg Easter Festival.