In real terms most aspiring classical artists don't make a living as a solo performer, even in countries where the state does put some money into classical music. Most of them end up teaching or in choruses. To woodwind players especially, even orchestral jobs are effectively solo performances because there'll only be one or two of each instrument in any orchestra, so the competition is horrendous.
It's horrible depressing, but relative to pop bands classical music's just not profitable. It requires a real talent, a lifetime of study, and good enough performance ability to get past the hardest critics in the business. Classical music audiences and reviewers are the pickiest and best-informed on their topic there are. To be a pop star, all you need to be is young, pretty, and able to sing well enough to be pulled into tune by a computer.
I think it was Terry Pratchett who wrote in one of his novels 'Opera doesn't make money. You put money in, you get opera out.' It's true... the classical arts are the ones you spend money on, while the popular arts are the ones that make money. And ultimately, those that make money will always get a bigger share of the business opportunities than those that spend it, because the recording industry is not a charity.