  We discuss the predicted performance of the HARMONI spectrograph and the ELT
in the context of two specific science cases: resolved stellar populations of
Local Volume galaxies and Galactic archaeology in dense environments. We have
produced and analysed a set of simulated data-cubes using the HSIM software,
mimicking observations across the giant elliptical galaxy Centaurus A and in
the nuclear bulge of the Milky Way. We use our results to demonstrate the
instruments capabilities to perform stellar absorption line spectroscopy in a
large number of stars which will allow us to study the detailed kinematics and
stellar population characteristics of these high density regions
