 Bellini spent 1827 to 1833 mostly in Milan, never holding any official position within an opera company and living solely from the income produced from his compositions, for which he was able to ask higher than usual fees.Upon his arrival, he met Antonio Villa of La Scala and composer Saverio Mercadante whose new opera, "Il Montanaro" was in rehearsal.The latter introduced him to Francesco and Marianna Pollini (an older couple, the husband a retired professor of piano, the wife a better-than-amateur musician) who immediately took the young man under their wing.