How about Matty Groves performed by a rap artiste?

I'd love to hear something like that. As George Papavgeris said earlier in this thread both the composition and the performance are creative acts. Both are creative acts within a set of rules, a musical vocabulary and grammar. The problem of enjoying is often that one lacks enough understanding of one of genres rules. I certainly do for opera for example.

35 years ago I remember failing to understand my parent's claim that rock music was just noise. It was (and still is) noise to them because they have no notion of the musical language that is being used.

If you understand both the composers musical language and the performers as well then a mixtures of genres can be an inspired choice and a wonderful performance, but those that don't will be left out in the cold.

It is also important to tell the audience what language you are using, putting on a accent can be one way of doing this. Don't denigrate people who put on a accent, often they are doing so subconciously because they have discovered they need to give the audience a clue that they are using a particular musical language.

Of course taking another style and using your own accent and tone makes is your own - a gallic style + yorkshire accent = Jake Thackray

Looking forwardto the rap version on Maty Groves.

Simon