  Peak interpolation is concerned with a foundational kind of mathematical
task: building functions in a fixed algebra $A$ which have prescribed values or
behaviour on a fixed closed subset (or on several disjoint subsets). In this
paper we do the same but now $A$ is an algebra of operators on a Hilbert space.
We briefly survey this {\em noncommutative peak interpolation}, which we have
studied with coauthors in a long series of papers, and whose basic theory now
appears to be approaching its culmination. This program developed from, and is
based partly on, theorems of Hay and Read whose proofs were spectacular, but
therefore inaccessible to an uncommitted reader. We give short proofs of these
results, using recent progress in noncommutative peak interpolation, and
conversely give examples of the use of these theorems in peak interpolation.
For example, we prove a useful new noncommutative peak interpolation theorem.
