 Not long after Fromental Halévy 's death in 1862 , Bizet had been approached on behalf of Mme. Halévy about completing his old tutor 's unfinished opera Noé . Although no action was taken at that time , Bizet remained on friendly terms with the Halévy family . Fromental had left two daughters ; the elder , Esther , died in 1864 , an event which so traumatised Mme. Halévy that she could not tolerate the company of her younger daughter Geneviève , who from the age of 15 lived with other family members . It is unclear when Geneviève and Bizet became emotionally attached , but in October 1867 he informed Galabert : " I have met an adorable girl whom I love ! In two years she will be my wife ! " . The pair became engaged , although the Halévy family initially disallowed the match . According to Bizet they considered him an unsuitable catch : " penniless , left @-@ wing , anti @-@ religious and Bohemian " , which Dean observes are odd grounds of objection from " a family bristling with artists and eccentrics " . By summer 1869 their objections had been overcome , and the wedding took place on 3 June 1869 . Ludovic Halévy wrote in his journal : " Bizet has spirit and talent . He should succeed " . 
