 However, by 16 June, he had decided on the location to be Milan, and then signed a contract to write a new opera for the Carnival season for a fee of one thousands ducati.This compared to 150 ducati for his first opera.Therefore, for "La straniera", Bellini received a fee which was sufficient for him to be able to make his living solely by composing music, and this new work became an even greater success than "Il pirata" had been.