I agree, Greater. It came as a complete shock to me to realize the dichotomy between the image that is projected of music as having such a youthful and healing influence on the players when in fact a number of them break down physically and/or emotionally from the strain of living their dream in an orchestra.
I watched my teacher, who was a Principal Flute, go through a near-fatal heart attack that nearly destroyed his extraordinary sound that then led to substance abuse that eventually caused him to be terminated.
Le Chant du Rossignol...(song of the nightingale) 