The Toda hierarchy and the KdV hierarchy

We show that spin generalization of elliptic Calogero-Moser system, elliptic extension of Gaudin model and their cousins are the degenerations of Hitchin systems. Applications to the constructions of integrals of motion, angle-action variables and quantum systems are discussed. The constructions of classical systems are motivated by Conformal Field Theory, and their quantum counterparts can be thought of as being the degenerations of the critical level Knizhnik-Zamolodchikov-Bernard equations.