I strongly disagree with Brian Peters[re instrumental breaks]
If I was a Story teller, and I was halfway through my story,I would not bring out a snare drum and do a two minute impersonation of Buddy Rich,it just interrupts the story,and distracts the listener,neither would I start juggling halfway through the story,or taking my clothes off and doing a strip tease.
Ballads are like stories,and [imo]do not need lengthy instrumental solos.perhaps a short two bars or four bars bridge at the end of a chapter,but that should be it.
however, I would also say this,it is possible to accompany ballads well, but easier[imo]to sing them well without any accompaniment,the singer has only one thing to concentrate on,the singing of the song.
working out a suitable accompaniment to a ballad and putting the two together requires twice as much work,as singing the ballad unaccompanied and is therefore[imo] twice as difficult,that is not cobblers ,but fact.
yes I do sing ballads with accompaniment,and without,again depends on my mood.