"What detracted from what we expect of a ballad are the vocal gymnastics and the elaborate accompaniment. One of the main characteristics of the big ballads is that they tell the story in an impersonal way in the third person."

Yes, a very good point.

We want ballads to be well told, and we really appreciate that. But we don't want, or need, the performers of those ballads to try dazzling us with their vocal and instrumental skills ... impressive though those skills may well be!

There's a fine line to be trod, between drawing in, and engaging, your audience with your skill in performing a ballad, and allowing that skill of yours to become the main focus, rather than the ballad that you're singing.