Thérèse Raquin is an American opera in two acts composed by Tobias Picker to a libretto by Gene Scheer based on the 1867 novel Thérèse Raquin by Émile Zola. It is Picker's third opera, following Emmeline (1996) and Fantastic Mr. Fox (1998). It was commissioned by the Dallas Opera, San Diego Opera, and the Opéra de Montréal. It premiered in November 2001. In 2006, a version with reduced orchestration was commissioned by Opera Theatre Europe; it premiered that year at the Royal Opera House and had its first New York performance in 2007 at Dicapo Opera Theatre. This version was subsequently produced by Boston University Opera Institute in 2009, Pittsburgh's Microscopic Opera Company in 2013, and both Long Beach Opera and the Chicago Opera Theater in 2015. Roles Synopsis Act 1 Paris, 1866. Late afternoon Madame Raquin and daughter-in-law, Thérèse, are folding laundry and discussing her son Camille's improved health and prospects. Camille rushes in with the news that their friend Laurent is coming to complete Camille's portrait. Laurent arrives with flowers for both women. Thrilled with the finished picture, Camille leaves to buy champagne. Left alone, Thérèse and Laurent, clearly familiar with each other, embrace. Thérèse describes the details of her early life and her marriage at 18 to her cousin. She explains that she consented to the marriage out of a sense of obligation to her aunt. She does not love Camille; Laurent is her hope, her grand passion. The following week, Madame Raquin and her friend Suzanne are sewing new dresses. Olivier and Monsieur Grivet, a colleague of Camille, arrive. Laurent and Camille enter, and the portrait is unveiled, applauded, and toasted. Privately, Laurent tells Thérèse that their midday trysts must end. His supervisor has threatened to fire him. She says she will do anything to be with him. On Sunday afternoon, after a walk along the banks of the Seine, Camille naps while Laurent and Thérèse profess their love. In a moment of passion Laurent suggests killing Camille. Thérèse responds that she will do anything in order to be with him. Laurent wakes Camille, and although Camille and Thérèse cannot swim, he proposes that they all rent a boat and row out to watch the sunset. Laurent rows to the middle of the river and attacks Camille. In the struggle, Camille bites Laurent's neck, but is too weak to resist and is thrown overboard. Thérèse and