More than 1000 poets and supporters of poetry listened to the CD "Tenth Muse" at the annual International Society of Poetry gathering in Las Vegas, Nevada in 2007. Master poets and teachers offered approval and encouragement of this breakthrough project. The comments, here summarized, are reactions from an international audience representing 20 countries:

• “Delightful and soothing”
• “Inspirational and relaxing”
• “I have to have one. NOW!"
• “This is a new and worthwhile marriage of the arts.”
• “I found the poetry and music delightful and soothing. The production quality was excellent.” (Jeffrey Williams ISP Poet of the Year)

On a recent visit to Europe another less numerous but nationally and culturally diverse sample was obtained:

• “Bewitching.” “Wonderful.” (Belgium senior retirees)
• “We listen to it over and over.” (40 something restaurateurs)
• “Passionate.”   (Portuguese 50 something couple)
• “A delightful experience.” (Manuel Neto dos Santos, poet/actor/critic)
• “The poet expresses himself in the form known as ‘poesia pura’, free of the contamination of negative feelings, worldly strife… We would call attention to the poetry of Walt Whitman, on one hand, and Spanish Nobel laureate of literature, Juan Ramon Jimenez, on the other… Our world needs the stimulation and soothing effect of this presentation.”  (John Howard Wolf, PhD, retired university professor of Romance languages and Literatures, writer, critic, visual artist)

"An hour with John Barbetta's spiritually-imbibed CD Tenth Muse is like meditating in the midst of gracious irises. Barbetta blends poetry, music, theatrics, and voice to create a listening experience that works like yoga, fine wine, and Meditterranean cuisine. You are not sure why, but you emerge from Barbetta's creations feeling good, very good, intelligent, strong, and in love for the right reasons, none of which you can precisely name. Inspiration is too banal to describe these timeless musical adventures where words become notes and careful silences provoke smiles." (David Applefield, editor of FRANK, author of "Once Removed" and "On a Flying Fish."