This book is devoted to some topical problems and applications of operator theory and its interplay with modern complex analysis. It consists of 20 selected survey papers that represent updated (mainly plenary) addresses to the IWOTA 2000 conference held at Bordeaux from June 13 to 16, 2000. The main subjects of the volume include: - spectral analysis of periodic differential operators and delay equations, stabilizing controllers, Fourier multipliers; - multivariable operator theory, model theory, commutant lifting theorems, coisometric realizations; - Hankel operators and forms; - operator algebras; - the Bellman function approach in singular integrals and harmonic analysis, singular integral operators and integral representations; - approximation in holomorphic spaces. These subjects are unified by the common "operator theoretic approach" and the systematic use of modern function theory techniques.