Based on Hans Christian Andersen's short story Isjomfruen (English: The Ice-Maiden), the work is an homage to Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, for the 35th anniversary of the composer's death.
A commission by Ida Rubinstein from 1927, the ballet was choreographed by Bronislava Nijinska and premiered in Paris on 27 November 1928.
The Divertimento from Le Baiser de la fée is a concert suite for orchestra based on music from the ballet.
It has four movements: In 1932 Samuel Dushkin and the composer produced a version for violin and piano, using the same title.
However, the latter only received the composer’s assent in 1947 after the French violinist Jeanne Gautier put forward an arrangement.