Prom 48: Simon Bolivar NYO / Dudamel, Royal Albert Hall, London

It wasn't just the promenaders who were on their feet at the climax of this sensational concert from Venezuela's hottest and most inspiring export: the entire audience and orchestra were stomping to the furious beat of the Malambo from Ginastera's Estancia.

By then, the Simon Bolivar Youth Orchestra had shucked their sober jackets, donned the sunny national colours, and were spinning their instruments, doing Mexican waves, and threatening to lead the audience in a conga around the Albert Hall.

It was a joyous and edifying spectacle – the more so since many of these youngsters could so easily have ended up toting weapons instead of instruments. The programme of social action involving 250,000 young musicians across Venezuela puts us to shame. But its example radiates hope.

Gustavo Dudamel, the young superstar conductor of the orchestra, is a shining example of opportunity unlocking gifts. He began with Shostakovich's 10th Symphony, and it was probably the performance of the season so far. The energy that comes off these young players is astonishing. In the climax of the first movement, a tremolando up the octave in the first violins almost took my scalp off.

But it wasn't just the all-out dynamism of the players that thrilled: it was their insight, too. Dudamel ensured that their collective quiet as much as their collective might spoke volumes for Shostakovich's alienation in a time of terrible duress. The searching clarinet solos were almost autobiographical in their solitude.

And so it was again with the Symphonic Dances from West Side Story. One would have expected this orchestra to whack out the percussion and screaming mariachi trumpets of the Mambo, but what came as more of a revelation was the sweetness and tenderness of Bernstein's ballads – and, in the carnival at the concert's climax, the sheer sensuousness of the playing. Really, it was humbling.

BBC Proms continue to 8 September (020-7589 8212) Visit www.independent.co.uk/promcast for exclusive daily podcasts, and listen online to highlights from the previous night's Prom