  The current evidence about the age of stellar populations in elliptical
galaxies is reviewed. The case for the bulk of stars in galactic spheroids
(ellipticals and bulges) having formed at high redshift (z>~3) is now
compelling, both for cluster and well as field galaxies. Whether the assembly
of ellipticals is deferred to lower redshifts compared to the formation of
their stars remains controversial, and we mention ongoing observational
programs that are designed to solve the issue. We present preliminary results
of a pilot project aimed at ascertain the nature of extremely red galaxies
(ERGs) with near-IR spectroscopy at the VLT.
