Kris, it happened to me and I beleive that it happens to anybody who has broadened his/her knowledge of the art of singing. We become more critical, but not necessarily less sensible to all expressions.

There's something I ignore (as many other things): did the very old folk singers (1900 to 1920) have a more "classical" style ? For example, if you listen to very early recordings of Neapolitan singers, or even early Afro-American singers, and more recent too, like Robeson, don't you find that they were fully trained and mature classical voices ? I love that style in blues, gospel, Italian and Spanish and Russian songs and many others, and it could be a matter of taste, but I have not had the opportunity to listen to old folk singers.

If this is true (early folk tenors, baritones, mezzos, etc) this would confirm my thoughts that the microphone and the power amplifier have made the difference, as it happened to popular singing in general.

Don, your comments on opera singers are very illustrative, I agree !

Un abrazo - Andrés