The hottest property in the world of classical music, Venezuelan Gustavo Dudamel, conducted the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra tonight in a programme that simply wowed the packed audience of more than 2000 concert-goers.

As a Director of the CBSO I'm proud of the players. Their commitment and musical achievement has an international reputation. But sometimes something special happens that causes sparks to fly with truly inspirational music making.

Dudamel's energy, musicality and ability to coax surprise from an orchestra in even the most well known of pieces is quite exceptional. Without doubt he is the greatest conductor of his generation, and a natural successor to the mantle of global great like Simon Rattle and Claudio Abbado.

Dudamel has been an inspiration for young people across South America through his leadership of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra of Venezuela. Music is intrinsic to life in every family home in Caracas. It provides vision, teamwork, culture and a recognition of excellence. The model of the Simón Bolívar Youth Orchestra is a challnge for British society that I only wish someone were brave enough to establish here.

This evening's concert included Aaron Copeland's Appalachian Spring, at the end of which Dudamel held silence for twelve seconds. The concentration of the orchestra and the audience to remain locked in total suspense was one of the more extraordinary reactions to an amazing performance that I have experienced at Symphony Hall in the 16 years since it opened.

Next we had a suite of film music by Revueltas. Full of Latin passion and drama, the piece concluded with about a dozen percussionists beating their drums and snares and whooping with exhiliration and joy. We all wanted to join in!

To conclude the evening Dudamel drew out the very finest playing of the CBSO in Dvorak's 9th Symphony "From the New World". I found a seat behind the orchestra so that I could see the conductor facing them and understand a little about how he manages to get that extra something from an already great orchestra and make them truly world-class. For players who had started the day in Paris following a very contrasting performance with Thomas Ades last night, the achievement tonight was nothing short of wonderful.

Luckily for me, principal cellist Eduardo Vassalo invited me to come with him to meet Gustavo Dudamel in his dressing room. This powerful stage presence was in fact one of the nicest, most engaging, guys you could hope to meet. Thanks Edu!

Sadly, the same programme should have been played last Wednesday. But, a bomb scare which turned out to be a hoax caused Symphony Hall, Broad Street, and much of central Birmingham to be closed. 2,200 people missed the chance to see the world's most inspirational young conductor, and the CBSO will have lost more than £20,000.

Gustavo Dudamel is taking up a position as Principal Conductor of the Gothenburg Symfoniker later this year. But I hope we will have a very special relationship with him here at the CBSO and that he will be back in Birmingham where he is so appreciated, very soon.