In this paper matrix orthogonal polynomials in the real line are described in terms of a Riemann-Hilbert problem. This approach provides an easy derivation of discrete equations for the corresponding matrix recursion coefficients. The discrete equation is explicitly derived in the matrix Freud case, associated with matrix quartic potentials. It is shown that, when the initial condition and the measure are simultaneously triangularizable, this matrix discrete equation possesses the singularity confinement property, independently if the solution under consideration is given by recursion coefficients to quartic Freud matrix orthogonal polynomials or not.

Abstract. We study the analytic properties of a matrix discrete system introduced in [7]. The singularity confinement for this system is shown to hold generically, i.e. in the whole space of parameters except possibly for algebraic subvarieties. This paves the way to a generalization of Painlevé analysis to discrete matrix models.

Matrix Szegő biorthogonal polynomials for quasi‐definite matrices of Hölder continuous weights are studied. A Riemann‐Hilbert problem is uniquely solved in terms of the matrix Szegő polynomials and its Cauchy transforms. The Riemann‐Hilbert problem is given as an appropriate framework for the discussion of the Szegő matrix and the associated Szegő recursion relations for the matrix orthogonal polynomials and its Cauchy transforms. Pearson‐type differential systems characterizing the matrix of weights are studied. These are linear systems of ordinary differential equations that are required to have trivial monodromy. Linear ordinary differential equations for the matrix Szegő polynomials and its Cauchy transforms are derived. It is shown how these Pearson systems lead to nonlinear difference equations for the Verblunsky matrices and two examples, of Fuchsian and non‐Fuchsian type, are considered. For both cases, a new matrix version of the discrete Painlevé II equation for the Verblunsky matrices is found. Reductions of these matrix discrete Painlevé II systems presenting locality are discussed.